Tennants Scottish Cup 25th February

[Beanie]

Top work Milners

First thought is that Hearts price looks good enough at 1.20.

Rangers v Peterhead earlier this season in the Scottish Cup saw the home side at a best price of around 1.07, and while Partick are perhaps marginally better than Partick, that wouldn't explain the difference on its own.

That price gap doesn't necessarily mean value here of course, but its a good start.

I too though would fancy Hearts to take this one comfortably, and with fifteen goals in their last 5 home games, and still just the 8 against in total at Tynecastle, its difficult to imagine Partick notching anything more than one goal from their few chances.

Partick have shown their abilities v Caley in this cup, but the ICT and Hearts home records are very different.

1.50 for HT/FT looks generous enough, as should the handicaps when they become available.

[JohnB2]

Pinaccle has got up Hearts -2 asain @1.96...

[milners]

Originally Posted by JohnB2

Pinaccle has got up Hearts -2 asain @1.96...

my biggest problem with this bet is Hearts play a 4-5-1 system. They should have too much in the tank though for Partick though but to score 3 with 1 lad up front normally doesn't give me confidence.

[milners]

Hamilton injury info:

http://www.acciesfc.co.uk/dundeepreview250206.htm

[milners]

Dundee team news:

Steven Robb and Kelvin Jack are Dundee's major injury worries ahead of the Tennent's Scottish Cup quarter final at Douglas Park, but Kevin McDonald and Bryan Deasley have returned to training and will be available to face Hamilton.

Jack of course was injured in the 3-3 draw at Broadwood last Saurday, a game winger Robb missed because of a flu bug which swept Dens last week. He made his comeback in a closed door game against Montrose on Monday but fell awkwardly after a heavy challenge and was substituted after just 25 minutes of the match with a shoulder injury. Hamilton have a long injury list for this game with Brian Carrigan, Derek Fleming, Marvyn Wilson, Paul McMullan, Mark McLaughlin and Scott MacKenzie all either ruled out or very doubtful. Of those Carrigan is the player that Dees will be hoping doesn't make it, he's scored two fantastic goals past Kelvin Jack this season. While it's thirty nine years since the home side were in a quarter final it's only three since Dundee reached the final, much has changed since they faced Falkirk at Brockville in the quarters on their way to Hampden and drew 1-1, Nacho Novo equalising Dundee lined up - Speroni, Mackay, Wilkie, Khizanishvili, Hernandez, Rae, Smith, Nemsadze, Novo (Burchill), Caballero, Lovell (Milne) As you can see only Barry Smith of those in action that day is likely to face the Accies, though Lee Wilkie should be back in the side soon. The Dens skipper celebrated his 32nd birthday this week and booking a return trip to the National stadium for the semi final would be a fitting birthday present for one of the club's most loyal servants of recent years. Dundee have faced Hamilton on three occasions in the Scottish Cup with, incredibly, the most recent meeting coming 81 years ago, both sides have progressed to a final after a meeting with two of those contests coming in semi-finals. The first of those saw Hamilton stop holders Dundee from reaching back to back finals, the Lanarkshire side winning the 1911 semi final contest at Douglas Park (before the days of neutral venues) 3-2, it was a real missed opportunity for the Dark Blues who led two nil through a double from Jimmy Bellamy early in the second half before getting complacent and allowing Accies to stage a spectacular comeback – Hamilton went on to take Celtic to a replay before losing 2-0. The sides next met in 1923 drawing 0-0 at Douglas Park, in a third round tie, before Dundee won the Dens replay 1-0 through a goal from Willie Knox. In 1925 it was Dundee's turn to head for Hampden after the sides had met in a semi final, but again it took two attempts before the Dee emerged victorious. Indeed Hamilton took the lead in the first match before Charlie Duncan levelled matters. In the replay Dundee took the lead at Easter Road through Davie McLean after 15 minutes and towards the end of the match John Rankine ensured a comfortable passage to Dundee's first Hampden final – The Clyde matches in 1910 when Dundee won the cup having been played at Ibrox. In the final Dundee went in front on the half hour against Celtic when Davie McLean knocked the ball home from close range after Jock Gilmour had headed against the bar. Dundee held out for a long time under intense second half pressure but with 19 minutes left one of the great goals of Scottish football history pulled Celtic level, Patsy Gallacher scoring an incredible individual effort. With three minutes left Celtic secured the cup with a goal from Jimmy McGrory which had a hint of offside about it. There would be big intervals between Dundee's subsequent Scottish Cup final appearances but semi finals have been reached on a much more regular basis, the support of 2096 Dark Blue fans will be vital if the side are to reach another this season. Listen in - The match is being broadcast live over the internet by BBC Radio Scotland – CLICK HERE to listen. Television - Highlights will be shown on BBC Scotland at 10.35pm on Saturday evening. Please note that the programme is not available outside Scotland. Sky Sports are likely to include any goals in their football roundup. Please don't travel without a ticket - Fans are reminded that the game is all ticket and we have sold our full allocation of tickets. Dundee Football Club asks fans not to travel without tickets. Replay – In the event of Saturday's match ending in a draw the replay will be staged at Dens Park on Tuesday 7th March at 7.45pm.

[Beanie]

Gretna are without forward Allan Jenkins and defender Martin Canning as they are both cup-tied for the visit by First Division leaders St Mirren.

But Gretna manager Rowan Alexander believes that the Second Division leaders have the resources to progress to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.

St Mirren midfielder Kirk Broadfoot has returned to training after a long-term knee injury but will not feature.

And goalkeeper Craig Hinchcliffe is still out with a knee injury.

[Beanie]

Falkirk defender Craig McPherson will miss Saturday's Scottish Cup quarter-final visit by Hibernian with a hamstring injury.

Darren Barr was cup-tied while on loan to Forfar, but fellow midfielders Jack Ross and Tiago Rodrigues have both recovered from minor knocks.

Hibernian striker Paul Dalglish is also cup-tied, having played for Livingston.

Guillaume Beuzelin, Scott Brown, Chris Killen and Antonio Murray are all sidelined through injury.

[Beanie]

Hearts striker Michal Pospisil has been ruled out of the Scottish Cup quarter-final visit by Partick Thistle after suffering a cut above an eye.

But midfielder Paul Hartley is back after suspension. Midfielders Jamie McAllister and Lee Johnson are dropped from the squad.

Thistle will be without defender Scott McCulloch after he strained his cruciate knee ligament.

The Second Division side hope to avenge their third-round defeat last season.

[Beanie]

Hartley back for Hearts, and even with Pospisil out Elliot and Jankauskas look good enough to continue banging in the goals.

1.60 on Betfair at the moment, and with only 1.50 available at the bookies and most mainstream ones going 1.40 or lower, I'm not convinced that will be around at kickoff.

5pts Hearts HT/FT @ 1.60 for me so far.

[crowie]

Originally Posted by JohnB2

Pinaccle has got up Hearts -2 asain @1.96...

Pinnacle out to 2.02 for Hearts -2 now.

Bet365 go 1.85 for Hearts -1.75 and you can change the handicap to get Hearts -2 at 2.05.

[Beanie]

That's tempting too crowie Don't want to get too committed on Hearts though - if the HT/FT price drops there's always the chance to lay a couple of pts off and switch them onto the handicap.

[zonker84]

My initial thought was that I'd make St Mirren marginal favourites or joint favourites, so it's a surprise to see Gretna favoured like they are. It's hard to tell just how good Gretna are until they starting playing Division One opposition every week, but I think St Mirren can at least avoid defeat. St Mirren +0.25 is one to ponder for me.

Probably will be on the Hearts HT/FT, fast becoming my favourite bet when they play at home, as they have done a lot lately

[kompressaur]

just to read up as i go. I think Gretna will have a hard time of it tomorrow myself Zonker. Strong candidate for a draw imo and think i saw 5/2 on it. Might have a dabble on that.

Hmmmm Hearts -2 i like the sound of that Crowie. If Gretna can put 6 past Partick then im pretty sure Hearts could stand a better than even money chance to win by 2. I dont give Partick much chance even though ive supported them a bit in this cup campaign. Scott Mclullch will be a miss miss for Partick in a game like this too.

Hamilton/Dundee looks like a draw to me but im tempted to chance Dundee. I klnow Hamilton are hard to beat on the plastic but just got a feeling its all a step too far for them. Prob not get involved. Hamilton have been carrying a lengthy injury list all season i suppose but i really think Dundee could nick it on the day. Not looked at the price funnily enough. 2/1 stan james i'd probably take but i dunno about the high street....7/4 in high street. i dunno its a poss. need to read the 4 match reports between them both this season. I notice Mickeypaul has a wee fancy for them too.

Hibs i wanna take and am expecting to be up for this one more than their league game but as Parahandy says maybe they aint an odds on shot.

[Parahandy]

Hearts looks the only clear cut proposition to me and as said earlier the handicap and HT/FT looks good so I'm on;

Hearts HT/FT at 1.55 betfair (you were right Beanie re the odds)
Hearts -2 on the AH at 2.09 also at betfair

Better than evens Hearts to win by at least 2 goals with the draw a no bet looks a good deal.

The other ties are too close to call for my liking.

[Parahandy]

Just a reminder - the Hearts game is a lunchtime kick off.