Premiership outfits knocked out, underdogs through and a quarter-final draw to set hearts racing!

Just like that, the Premier Sports Cup returned at the weekend, with the last 16 teams aiming to book their place in the quarter-finals.

First Ayrshire Derby in Five Years

The Ayrshire Derby kicked off proceedings on Friday night as Kilmarnock hosted Ayr United. Both Neil McCann and Gary Naysmith managed their first every derby, and it did not disappoint.

Killie, who have struggled with form recently, were desperately needing a result to lift the spirits around Rugby Park, whereas Ayr were aiming to maintain an unbeaten start to the campaign.

Ayr struck first just five minutes after kick-off as Stirton tapped the ball into the net. Killie had to be patient if they were to find a way back into this tie, and it took another 37 minutes before Hugill fired them level with his low effort.

Just minutes after half-time, Ross Taylor pulled the visitors ahead once again with a fine curling effort, which sent the away end into delirium as they believed they could hold out for a victory against Premiership opposition. However, that prospect looked unlikely as Larsen placed an equaliser into the bottom corner in the 79th minute.

Ayr, who had looked stellar all evening, lost concentration for the final 10 minutes of the game, and Killie made no mistake in capitalising on this as they edged a winner in the 89th minute. Clescenco chipped the goalkeeper, who had been taken out by his own defender in a complete misunderstanding when attempting to clear the ball.

Despite one of the most enthralling games of the round of 16, for a neutral fan, I can however imagine anybody at Rugby Park was on the edge of their seat. It was a derby defeat for Ayr as Kilmarnock sealed their place in the quarter-finals.

Getting the Game Don

The first game of Saturday came in Aberdeen as they booked their place in the next round with a less contested game against Dundee. However, the Dons did leave all the scoring action until the second half.

Nisbet’s first goal of the afternoon came from a rebound after the goalkeeper spilled a previous effort. However, debutant Nteto marked his first game in style with a magnificent strike to double the lead in the 57th minute, as he turned in the box before rifling his shot into the top corner.

Nisbet added the cherry on top and sealed the deal in the 63rd minute as he thundered his shot into the roof of the net.

A brace from the captain and a dream debut for Nteto was all Aberdeen required to send them into the hat for the next round, as Stephen Robinson looks to add to his League Cup trophy cabinet.

Staggies Scrape By

Another tie which waited until the second half to get properly underway was Dunfermline against Ross County, as Neil Lennon sought to lead his team to another superb cup run. However, Kettlewell had other ideas.

Lindsay headed the Staggies in front in the 58th minute as the County player was left in acres of space in the middle of the box, a disappointing one to concede from Lennon’s point of view.

Dunfermline did respond 18 minutes later through Oyirwoth, who received the ball at the back post to roll it into an empty net. However, all was not over yet, as with the game looking destined for extra time, Ross County still had one last push in them.

In the 85th minute, Chin received the ball in behind the Pars’ backline before dispatching his volley into the top corner to send County through.

The Posts Were Battered

The final action of Saturday came from Tannadice as Dundee United hosted Celtic, with Martin O’Neill reassuming his position on the touchline following a small procedure.

The scoreline for this match doesn’t paint the whole picture. Yes, Celtic dispatched four goals beyond Dundee United; however, United hit the woodwork five times throughout the game and had an arguably strong penalty claim denied.

Trusty opened the scoring for the champions after 22 minutes when a Hoops corner found him at the front post, and all he had to do was glance his effort goalbound.

Celtic quickly doubled their lead two minutes later, however, not without controversy, as the ball looked to strike the arm of Hogh before dropping to Duran in the box, who poked his effort into the top corner.

Celtic came out in the second half and performed much the same, with a similar outcome, as Tounekti added a third for the Glasgow side with his low shot rippling the back of the net in the 53rd minute.

To cap off the evening and book Celtic a quarter-final place, Nygren added a fourth in the 63rd minute after his shot was deflected.

Stenny Stun Motherwell

The first match of four from Sunday came from Ochilview Park as Stenny defeated high-flying Motherwell in extra time. Absolutely nobody can discredit the work rate of Stenhousemuir as they played Motherwell off the park, with the Lanarkshire side seeming miles off the pace. All credit goes to Marvin Bartley, who coached Stenhousemuir to perfection.

Stenny had various chances to send the game beyond Motherwell’s reach, mainly when the Steelmen scrambled the ball off the line. They also watched as the ball ricocheted off the inside of the post and back out into play.

As the game headed to extra time, Motherwell looked out of ideas and seemed to be hoping the game would fall to penalties, but it wasn’t to lie in the hands of the goalkeepers, as O’Reilly sent Stenny into the quarter-finals for the first time in 51 years.

The winger received the ball in the middle of the box before slotting his effort into the far corner to send Ochilview Park into a state of euphoria, and deservedly so.

Nobody can take away what it means to the club to advance to the next round and the cohesive performance the newly promoted side displayed against Premiership opposition.

Eight-Goal Thriller

It wouldn’t be a true cup knockout round without a goal fest in one of the games, and that came at Tynecastle as Hearts eventually breezed past Inverness Caledonian Thistle to book their place in the next round.

Caley did open the scoring early doors through Bavidge; however, it was ruled offside, and this appeared to be the wake-up call Hearts needed as they drew first blood in the 16th minute. Brochgrevink looped his header over the goalkeeper and into the goal to present Hearts with the lead.

Inverness did respond in the second half with two goals in very quick succession as Duncan took the ball down beautifully before knocking it goalward and beyond the keeper. Bavidge doubled the Highlanders’ lead just two minutes later as he rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into the net, cool as you like.

Hearts didn’t require long to respond, and after their leveller you could sense they were about to dispatch Inverness. Mato powered his header in at the 59th minute to equalise for the hosts before Hearts scored four more goals in the space of 10 minutes.

Miller was decisive from the penalty spot as he placed his spot-kick into the top corner. Young striker Wilson joined the scoring action just two minutes later, in the 84th minute, as he headed in his effort.

Would it really be a Hearts victory without a Braga goal? The answer is no, as the Portuguese player added goal number five in added time with a beautifully weighted shot caressing into the top corner.

Shortly after came goal number six, in the form of Miller once again, who slotted the ball home to solidify a quarter-final place for the Jambos. Yet, at this point, it was never in doubt.

Hibs Heading to Quarters

The only goal of the game from Easter Road came in the 12th minute as Hibs welcomed Partick Thistle.

A lovely piece of build-up play from the Hibees ended with Elding lunging to poke the ball into an empty Thistle net.

Hibs, who could have easily been out of sight given their copious chances, were handed a scare as Thistle were adamant they should have received a penalty for a handball. However, VAR recommended that the referee should examine his decision, and ultimately he changed his mind and opted not to award the penalty.

Sometimes it doesn’t have to be pretty, and that couldn’t be more true for this game as Hibs managed to hold out and secure a spot in the quarter-finals.

McInnes Bags First Win

After a rocky start to his tenure in the Rangers dugout, McInnes knew a positive result against St Mirren was mandatory to pull their season back on track, and Rangers delivered with a five-star performance.

Naderi guided the ball in with his midriff, not your conventional goalscoring style, but I’ll let it slide, in the 9th minute to get Rangers’ goalscoring spree underway.

Dragojevic joined the action just 11 minutes later with a smashing effort from 25 yards out, which he volleyed sweet as a nut into the top corner to double the lead for the Gers.

St Mirren did pull one back through Mochrie as he drilled his effort in just before the 30-minute mark. However, any hope St Mirren had of a comeback was quickly snuffed out as Gassama rolled the ball in for a third goal in the 52nd minute.

Why just stop at three goals when you can have four? Penrice swept the ball in to mark his Rangers debut with a goal.

Aiming for goal number five in the 74th minute was McCausland, who booted the ball into the net from close range to ensure Rangers made it into the next round, although by this stage their quarter final spot was booked.

Is there a better way to wrap up another eventful Premier Sports Cup weekend than with a quarter-final draw, as all eight teams waited to learn of their fate for the next round. It’s safe to say the draw did not disappoint, with the fixtures as follows:

Rangers vs Celtic
Kilmarnock vs Aberdeen
Ross County vs Hibernian
Stenhousemuir vs Hearts

I, for one, can’t wait for the quarter-finals of this competition, as at least two Premiership teams will miss out on the chance of the first taste of silverware this season.

With two underdogs still within touching distance of the semi-finals, could one of them make it through? Well, the all-important weekend in September holds all the answers.