The 2020–21 Scottish League Cup final was an association football match that took place at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 28 February 2021. It was the final match of the 2020–21 Scottish League Cup, the 75th season of the Scottish League Cup (known as the Betfred Cup for sponsorship reasons), a competition for the 42 teams in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL).
Originally due to take place in December 2020, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on scheduling meant that the match was pushed back to February 2021 and played behind closed doors.
Winners St Johnstone are the only club to have claimed the trophy having qualified from the early-season group stage since its introduction in 2016–17, while Livingston are one of just two beaten finalists to have come through the groups. Unusually in the 21st century, all of St Johnstone's starting XI (and their used substitute) were born in Scotland, although two players featured for other countries at international level.
Route to the final
St Johnstone RoundOppositionScore Group stage Kelty Hearts2–1 (a) Group stage Brechin City7–0 (h) Group stage Dundee United0–0 (h) Group stage Peterhead3–1 (a) Second round Motherwell2–1 (a) Quarter-final Dunfermline Athletic1–1 (a) Semi-final Hibernian3–0 (n)
St Johnstone won Group C to qualify for the second round, winning 10 points from a possible 12. They won 2–1 at Lowland League side Kelty Hearts, 7–0 against League Two club Brechin City and 3–1 at League One team Peterhead. In their other match, Saints drew 0–0 with fellow Premiership club Dundee United, but lost the penalty shootout.
Saints were unseeded for the second round draw and were drawn to face Motherwell at Fir Park on 28 November. Motherwell scored first through Tony Watt, but late goals from Callum Hendry and David Wotherspoon turned the tie around and sent Saints into the quarter-finals.
Saints were again drawn away for the quarter-final, against Championship club Dunfermline Athletic. After a goalless draw in normal time, Shaun Rooney scored the opening goal in the first period of extra time. Dunfermline equalised to force a penalty shootout, which Saints won 4–3.
Hibernian provided the opposition in the semi-final, played at Hampden Park on 23 January. Hibs started strongly but goals from Jason Kerr Shaun Rooney and Craig Conway saw Saints run out comfortable 3–0 winners.
Livingston RoundOppositionScore Group stage Edinburgh City5–1 (a) Group stage Alloa Athletic2–1 (h) Group stage Stenhousemuir4–0 (a) Group stage Airdrieonians4–1 (h) Second round Ayr United4–0 (h) Quarter-final Ross County2–0 (h) Semi-final St Mirren1–0 (n)
Livingston won Group H to qualify for the second round, winning the maximum 12 points en route. They won easily in away games against League Two clubs Edinburgh City and Stenhousemuir, 2–1 at home against Championship side Alloa Athletic, and 4–1 against League One team Airdrieonians.
Livingston were seeded for the second round draw and were drawn to face Championship club Ayr United at home on 28 November. Despite their progress in the League Cup, Livingston had been struggling in the Premiership and manager Gary Holt left the club before the second round tie was played. David Martindale took charge of the team for the first time in the match with Ayr, which Livingston won easily after scoring three early goals through an own goal and two efforts by Jack Fitzwater.
Martindale was still in interim charge for the quarter-final, in which Livi were again drawn at home. They were paired with Ross County, who had knocked out cup holders Celtic in the previous round. Two early goals gave Livi a 2–0 victory.
St Mirren provided the opposition in the semi-final, played at Hampden Park on 24 January. Martindale had been appointed manager on a permanent basis after the quarter-final, and his unbeaten start as a manager continued as an early Scott Robinson goal was enough to give Livingston a 1–0 win. Two days after the semi-final, a Scottish Football Association hearing approved Martindale as a "fit and proper person" to hold a management position. He had previously been imprisoned for involvement with organised crime.
Match
Summary In the 32nd minute Craig Conway hit an out swinging corner from the right which Shaun Rooney headed down to the right corner from seven yards out, Livingston goalkeeper Robby McCrorie got a hand to the ball to push it against the post and into the net.
Details
GK1 Zander ClarkCB5 Jason Kerr (c)CB6 Liam Gordon CB4 Jamie McCartRM19 Shaun RooneyCM18 Ali McCann CM26 Liam CraigLM24 Callum Booth AM7 Craig Conway AM10 David WotherspoonFW9 Chris Kane Substitutes:DF2 James BrownDF3 Scott TanserFW11 Michael O'Halloran GK12 Elliot ParishMF13 Craig BrysonFW14 Stevie May MF15 Charlie GilmourFW17 Guy Melamed Manager: Callum Davidson GK1 Robby McCrorieRB2 Nicky Devlin CB25 Efe AmbroseCB27 Jon Guthrie LB12 Julien Serrano CM33 Steve Lawson CM18 Jason Holt AM14 Josh Mullin AM8 Scott Pittman AM6 Marvin Bartley (c) FW17 Scott RobinsonSubstitutes:DF5 Jack FitzwaterFW9 Jay Emmanuel-Thomas MF10 Craig Sibbald MF11 Alan Forrest FW20 Gavin Reilly DF21 Jack McMillanDF29 Aaron Taylor-SinclairGK32 Max StryjekFW37 Jaze KabiaManager: David Martindale Match officials Referee: Don RobertsonMatch rules 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary Penalty shoot-out if scores still level Maximum of five substitutions (1 additional in any extra-time)
References