Scottish winger Kris Commons scored a cracking goal for his side Derby County last night to record a memorable victory over league, European and World Club champions Manchester United last night. His rasping drive from 30-yards out give the Championship side (relegated from the English Premier League earlier this year after winning only one game all season) a cracking win on the day new manager Nigel Clough was introduced to the fans. There's still the return leg at Old Trafford to get through of course, but nevertheless it was a result not many expected.
All of which got us thinking - as it's the Scottish Cup that takes over the league program north of the border, we thought we'd look back over some of the great Scottish Cup upsets over the years, beginning with a team that has caused it's fair share of heartache to one SPL side in particular.
Ayr United, currently second in the Scottish second division finally go through their fixture with Lochee United after the sixth attempt. A 1-1 draw in the third round forces the first of five replays which all fell foul of the weather. The Honest Men finally won 3-1 against the East of Scotland junior side just before Christmas to set up a tasty tie with SPL side Kilmarnock. Now, Kilmarnock would do well to remember Ayr United, for their rivals from down the coast along the A77 have beaten them several before in the same competition. Beginning in 1998, Ayr won 2-0 thanks to goals from Jim Dick and Ian Ferguson, repeating the achievement again the following year when, on the 23rd January 1999, Ayr United came out 3-0 winners in a game that saw one sending off and two penalties. Clearly a scrappy affair, the Kilmarnock team on the day also featured two former Rangers legends seeing out the twilight of their careers - Ian Durrant and Ally McCoist.
In February 2000, roughly around the time when Kilmarnock where knocked out of the Cup by lowly Alloa, a Second division side, Ayr again took one of the Dundee sides to a replay before eventually going through. This time it was the turn of the dark blue half of Dundee to get a taste of some Ayrshire humble pie. A drab game that finished goalless at the end of ninety minutes, Gavin Rae put SPL side Dundee ahead pretty much straight from the kick-off extra-time, before Neil Duffy scored ten minutes later. With no more goals, the dreaded penalty kicks followed which, happily for Ayr United, they won 7-6. Their reward? Another tie against SPL opposition, this time in the shape of Motherwell.
Despite some pretty hefty defeats to the Old Firm that season (in particular Rangers, who beat them 4-1, 6-2 and 5-1) and that epic 5-6 defeat at home to Aberdeen, Motherwell where doing alright. They'd finish the season in fourth place, helped by veteran keeper Andy Goram in goals. Clearly then, the odds where stacked in the Steelmen's favour when Ayr United come to town. A cracking game unfolded in which six goals where scored before half-time. Gary Teale opened the scoring for Ayr in the 8th minute, before Lee McCulloch and Don Goodman restored Motherwell's pride. Two penalties followed shortly after (Teale again converting from the spot) before Ged Brannan put Motherwell's nose out in front again. The lead would not last long: Neil Tennant equalised for Ayr just before half-time, meaning the teams went in to the break three goals a-piece.
The 5,000 spectators inside the grounds must have been grateful for the 15 minute break to catch their breath again, but 10 minutes after the restart Neil Tennant popped up again to give the visitors an unlikely lead. Despite playing most of the half with only 10 men (forward Michael Reynolds having been sent off), Ayr held on for the win - and another SPL scalp. Check out the highlights below.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DGUxmgxlo8
In 2002, Ayr once again managed to eliminate two SPL sides. The first, the Fourth round victory over Dunfermline (managed at the time by Aberdeen gaffer Jimmy Calderwood and featuring former Aberdeen player Barry Nicholson and Falkirk defender Lee Bullen) came courtesy of goals from James Grady and John Robertson as well as an own goal from (current St Mirren manager) Gus McPherson. In the next round Ayr United again played Dundee United and again took them to a replay. The 2-2 draw at Tannadice was followed two weeks later by a splendid 2-0 win for Ayr thanks to goals from Scott Crabbe and Paul Sheerin. Check out the highlights below.httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcXxfgfPw-w
So, all in all, Ayr United have a pretty good record against SPL sides in the Scottish Cup: Kilmarnock, Dundee, Dundee United, Motherwell and Dunfermline.
Another SPL side, one with a bit more of a track record has also had it's fair share of upsets. By the time they reached the semi-final, Celtic had worked their way through Clydebank (5-0), Hibs (2-0) and eventual league champions Rangers (2-0) before they faced First division Falkirk. The Bairns (who would finish in the lower half of the table that season) had an easier route to the semis (Berwick, Dunfermline and Raith) and no one expected them to get much from the game. But a 1-1 draw at Parkhead in April (Kevin James scoring eight minutes from time for Falkirk) meant the teams would have to do it all over again. For Falkirk it meant another pay-day at Parkhead: just over 45,000 saw the first game and another 35,000 would see Falkirk's Paul McGrillen score in the 19th minute to put the Bairns into the Scottish Cup Final. They'd lose to Kilmarnock, but that win over Celtic would go down as a definite Cup upset.
The other half of the Old Firm may have a world record 51 league titles and have won more major trophies than any other football club in the world, but there's been at least one cringe-worthy moment.
Back in 1967, Berwick Rangers (also known as ''The Wee Rangers") where part of the old Second division (we'd call it the Third nowadays) while Rangers where then, as now, a top team in Scotland. Having finished runner-up to Celtic in the previous season (the win that would start their memorable 9-in-a-row series), their Scottish Cup win in April 1966 was their only silverware and, naturally, they where keen to hold on to it. Surely for a team that could field John Greig, Willie Henderson, Willie Johnston and Alec Smith, wee Berwick would prove no problem?
Berwick had a young goalkeeper playing for them at the time who would, in later years, have a big influence on Rangers. His name was Jock Wallace, and he was kept busy for most of the game, especially as, against the run of play (and logic), Sammy Reid scored for Berwick.
Despite much pressure from the Gers to equalise, Berwick held out for a famous victory. They would go out to Hibernian in the next round, while Rangers striker Jim Forrest and centre-forward George McLean, deemed responsible for the defeat - where transferred out of Ibrox shortly afterwards as result of this game. There was some good news for Rangers though - while they didn't win the league that season, they'd reach the Cup Winners Cup final that year where they lost to Bayern Munich.
In January of 1959, Highland League outfit Fraserburgh beat Dundee 1-0 in the Scottish Cup. Dundee, at that time one of the top teams in Scotland had Bill Brown and Doug Cowie back from the ‘58 World Cup Finals as well as future Everton star Jimmy Gabriel in the side. Gas Board clerk Johnny Strachan scored the goal that sent the Dee’s packing and Dundee still regard this as one of their most embarrassing moments.
And another Highland League side, Buckie Thistle, beat Queens Park in a 4th round replay in 1954, making them the only non-league side ever to have won a Scottish Cup game at Hampden.
Right, that sums up our look at some great Scottish Cup upsets. If you know of any others, drop us a comment.
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