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Scottish Cup semi-final draw: Dundee Utd face Celtic and Hibs take on Falkirk

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Scottish Cup

Hibernian have been drawn to face Falkirk in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.

Dundee United will take on SPL opponents Celtic with a place in the final at Hampden in May at stake.

Falkirk, the only First Division outfit remaining in the competition, will aim to beat last season's finalists.

Reacting to the draw, Celtic captain Scott Brown tweeted:external-link "So Dundee Utd in cup, be a hard game as they have started to hit some form but I have faith in our lads."

And Brown's team-mate Mikael Lustig told BBC Scotland: "We want to win the trophy this year. Dundee United are a really good team.

"They have some young lads in the team and we'll have to be at our best if we want to reach the final."

Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson said he was "delighted" to be in the draw, following their 2-1 win over the Dark Blues at Dens Park.

And he added: "Celtic is a hard game but any game would have been difficult and you just take what you get in the draw.

"Celtic are a very difficult team [to beat] but it's a one-off game so you never know.

"If we hit form on the day I'm sure we are capable of beating them."

Hibernian captain James McPake revealed that, while he is not under-estimating the challenge posed by the Bairns, the Easter Road side will be motivated by a desire to make up for their 5-1 mauling by Hearts in last season's Scottish Cup final.

"On paper it's the best draw we could have got but I'm still a wee bit wary of it," he told BBC Scotland.

"Being a First Division team doesn't mean anything. Coming into a cup tie it's win or bust so for both of us it's going to be a tough tie.

"We are happy just to be here and be in the draw.

"It [the cup final defeat] was a terrible day last season. It's hurting a lot of people still. We've gone too long not winning this cup.

"We have the chance to make amends."

Falkirk were represented at the draw by their technical director Alex Smith. He described the idea of returning to Hampden for a cup final as "an absolute dream" and is looking to the tie against Hibs as a learning experience for the squad.

"It's really thrilling for everybody. It will be a great day for the young players," he said.

"The build-up to the game will be very exciting for them.

"Our club is about progress with the young players and for them to gain experience to take Falkirk into the top flight.

"For us this is great preparation for that, although this particular tie gives us an opportunity to go into the final.

"The supporters have stuck by us brilliantly this last while. They have followed the structure in the club to develop our own young players.

"That's quite a long journey and there are a lot of frustrations on the journey. To bring them here to play in a cup final would be an absolute dream."

Scottish Cup semi-final draw

Hibs v Falkirk

Dundee Utd v Celtic

Ties to be played on the weekend of 13/14 April

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42 comments

  • Comment posted by Greenlichtie, at 17:10 4 Mar 2013

    As a 'tic fan I'm taking nowt for granted......especially after recent hampden outings. United always provide a tough tie.
    To be honest if Celtic weren't in the mix I'd be happy to see any of the other 3 teams win it. Lets hope for good games eh?

  • Comment posted by Feel MaDullTie, at 22:56 4 Mar 2013

    Celtic playing in Champions League and SFA Cup semi. Rangers are playing East Stirling and Whitehill Welfare in the Painters and Bank Clerks League.

  • Comment posted by User0150653800, at 14:13 4 Mar 2013

    Cue the blithering idiot

  • Comment posted by User0830077009, at 14:40 4 Mar 2013

    Utd vs Celtic will be a very decent game and one worth watching.

    If Celtic get through they will romp Hibs or Falkirk.

  • Comment posted by blowup doll, at 21:09 4 Mar 2013

    Russell :(

    Can we at least have Ambrose fly in from abroad on the eve of the game to give us a chance?

  • Comment posted by User0695481271, at 00:51 5 Mar 2013

    Football_Understand........going by the level of losses rangers posted you'll be renting out mordor next! The fact your boasts are reduced to owning a driveway exposes how irrelevant rangers have become!

    grahame........dry your eyes. Lenny's smirk is the least of your worries.

  • Comment posted by User0830077009, at 15:16 4 Mar 2013

    #11
    No I'm speculating on a different game!

  • Comment posted by Famousfivers, at 14:55 4 Mar 2013

    Mon the Hibees!!!!!

  • Comment posted by OddJobLot, at 17:36 4 Mar 2013

    A not very heartening, but interesting fact..... 111 years since Hibs last won the Scottish Cup....

    Please bring this 'dry patch' to an end this year..... I won't be around for the end of the next 111 year stretch....

    And Falkirk are no pushovers either, so please don't take them for granted.

  • Comment posted by User0088472861, at 17:54 4 Mar 2013

    not looking good for the Arabs but we will turn out in force and make a day of it as we normally do. Good luck 2 all 4 left in the comp.

  • Comment posted by User0138751910, at 23:29 4 Mar 2013

    Good draw, lets all hope for open, attacking football, with the absence of controversial refereeing descisions. AKA 'honest mistakes'

  • Comment posted by User0362458550, at 15:38 4 Mar 2013

    7 Renfrewarab - Bad news, Russell has a fractured fibula and probably out for the season.
    One fit striker at United now. Still 6 central midfielders though. Houston should be in the Hague for his crimes against football, as should those who thought he was a competent manager.

    Anyway, back on topic. Would have preferred Falkirk, but would rather play Celtic in the semi than the final... probably.

  • Comment posted by User0131296452, at 19:33 4 Mar 2013

    Had a feeling Utd would draw Celtic. Whoever wins that will win the cup. Bad news about Russell. Utd squad is so thin its frightening, no strikers or central defenders to cover. Lets hope that nobody else gets injured.

  • Comment posted by United13, at 14:16 4 Mar 2013

    Hoping for a trend for United, Scottish Cup win at every manager change! =D

  • Comment posted by WeeJockPooPongMcPlop, at 18:09 4 Mar 2013

    Footballwise it doesn't matter when you get Celtic.
    You have to beat the best teams if you want to win a cup. If you can't then you aren't going to lift that silverware, simples.

  • Comment posted by WeeJockPooPongMcPlop, at 17:53 4 Mar 2013

    Johnny Russell has a fractured fibula so will most likely miss the semi with Celtic, but with good physio etc. should be alright for the final ;)

  • Comment posted by User0561820665, at 14:40 4 Mar 2013

    Having had 2 of the most exciting draws in the last 2 rounds (The Rangers and Dundee), this was to be expected. I reckon we just pray noone is injured, defend better than we did against them at Celtic park, and reduce silly mistakes and we'll be fine. Fingers crossed its on Saturday!

  • Comment posted by NottsArab, at 09:20 5 Mar 2013

    Russell is a massive loss but I'm glad we got Celtic in the semis, couldn't face another final against them...

  • Comment posted by Hibs-Beer-CoD-Girlfriend in that order, at 06:51 5 Mar 2013

    Where do Celtic fans get they will destroy whoever in the final? Only taken 1 point from Hibs this season and deserved nothing more. And you're hampden record in the last couple of years will leave no team scared of you. Both ties will be good and yes the winners of the Celtic game will be favourites there is no guarantee the winner any of the matches left. Will be a good end to the cup. GGTTH

  • Comment posted by Dungolfin, at 14:47 4 Mar 2013

    It's an all green and white final then.

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