@splstats looks at some of the numbers behind the weekend games, with the focus on Hearts, Motherwell, Morton, Annan and Elgin.
1 Heart of Midlothian defeated Aberdeen 1-0 at Tynecastle to record their first Scottish Cup victory for four seasons. The Jam Tarts had lost in the fourth round in the last three years - 1-0 to Hibernian in 2012/13, then 7-0 and 4-0 to Celtic. Callum Paterson’s third-minute header was Hearts’ first Scottish Cup goal since Rudi Skacel netted in the 75th minute of their 5-1 victory over Hibs in the 2012 final. Twenty one year-old full-back Paterson marked his 125th appearance with his 28th goal for the club.
5 Motherwell defeated Highland League side Cove Rangers 5-0 to move into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup for the first time in five seasons. It was Well’s first victory in a cup competition at Fir Park since February 2012, when Morton were thumped 6-0 in the Scottish Cup. Since then, they have lost to Aberdeen three times, as well as suffering defeats to Panathinaikos, Levante, Kuban Krasnodar and Dundee United, and drawing with Stjarnan.
5 Morton moved into the Scottish Cup last 16 after beating Livingston 1-0 at the Tony Macaroni Arena. The Ton last reached this stage in 2012/13, and will now be looking to make the quarter-finals for the first time since 1998/99. Morton have now recorded five consecutive wins against Livi, keeping four clean sheets in the process. They have not lost in West Lothian since November 2008, a run which now extends to nine matches in all competitions - five wins and four draws.
4 Annan Athletic reached the last 16 of the Scottish Cup for the first time in their history after creating the shock of the round on Saturday. The Ladbrokes League 2 side thumped Premiership club Hamilton Accies 4-1 at Galabank thanks to goals from Matt Flynn, Josh Todd and a double from Rabin Omar. The victory was Annan’s first ever success against top-flight opposition and could leave them as the only League 2 side in round five if Stirling Albion lose at Inverness in their replay.
3 Elgin City took advantage of Annan (and Queen’s Park) not playing to extend their lead at the top of Ladbrokes League 2 to four points thanks to a 3-2 win at Arbroath. Jim Weir’s side have taken 13 points from their last five matches, including away wins against Berwick Rangers, East Fife and Arbroath. This is the first time in over six years that the Black and Whites have recorded three consecutive away wins – the last time was in the autumn of 2009.
