Will Clark – Scrapping replays best idea Scottish Cup has ever had
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SCRAPPING replays in the Scottish Cup is the best idea to be introduced into the competition ever in my opinion.
I only question why it wasn’t introduced into every round of the tournament rather than brought in from the fourth round onwards.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle were forced into a replay at Cappielow which saw them go out of the tournament on penalties to Greenock Morton in the third round.
Hopefully that will be one of the last replays the competition ever sees.
Replays being scrapped in the Scottish Cup may be a result of the impact of the pandemic, but it should have been brought in a long time before 2020.
There is an argument that the football calendar is already too congested with fixtures, which also has to contend with league postponements due to extreme weather and Covid. It is especially problematic for clubs involved in lower league football who are less equipped to tackle these problems compared to teams in the top flight.
Not to mention the additional replay causing a knock-on effect on the rest of the scheduled fixture list.
Some people argue replays are a good thing however, especially for lower league clubs who draw a big name in the Scottish Cup. A draw could give them the chance to bring a big name to their home ground or give them a chance to play at one of the famous names of Scottish football.
However, the chance of a replay also takes a way the competitiveness of a fixture with that possibility. Some teams may have been less inclined to go forward and grab a win.
But I really enjoyed the Scottish Cup this weekend, especially with League Two leaders Kelty Hearts pulling off a massive upset defeating holders St Johnstone 1–0 after extra time to give them the biggest win in the club’s history.
Had the old replay rule been in place, the two teams would be going at it again some time next week at McDiarmid Park.
There were the less glamorous ties which also went to extra time as well, Annan Athletic beating Clydebank 4–3 after extra time, Motherwell beating Morton 2–1 after a 119th minute winner, as well as Peterhead beating East Kilbride on penalties after it was 2–2 after 120 minutes.
Even for the teams that lost, I bet they were still glad that they could decide the outcome on the day.
Cove Rangers might argue differently after putting in a terrific shift before going down 1–0 to Hibernian at Easter Road in extra time.
But I just find replays tedious to be honest, regardless if it proves financially beneficial to other clubs, I think a lot of clubs find the prospect of playing a replay annoying and could do without the aggravation it causes the fixture list.
But I am glad that the Scottish Cup itself hasn’t gone the same way as the FA Cup in England where the competition itself is treated by some as an inconvenience due to the vast millions available for finishing as high up the Premiership as possible.
For clubs outside the Old Firm, it is their best chance of winning silverware and even for Rangers and Celtic, it is a chance for them to gloat over the other we’ve won more trophies than you.
It is a brilliant competition and with no replays, it is even better.
Let’s not see a replay of bringing replays back to the Scottish Cup.
