Thank you for your company this afternoon, we'll be back throughout the weekend to bring you all the action from this weekend's Scottish football fixtures.

Don't forget⤵️

Championship leaders Arbroath v Hibs is live on BBC One Scotland on Sunday

Dundee's trip to third-tier Peterhead live on BBC Scotland on Monday

Goodbye!⚽️

Hearts have been in two finals in the last three seasons, losing both to Celtic, the second one in a penalty shoot-out, and Neilson is looking to go one better this season and bring the trophy back to Edinburgh for the first time since 2012.

He said: “It has been a while since Hearts have won it so we need to take that next step.

“We were a couple of kicks away from winning it two years ago, we want to get as far as we can but first and foremost it starts tomorrow, there is no point looking four or five games down the line, we have to win tomorrow.

“It is a tough draw but it is a home draw and that’s what you want to give you the best chance of getting through and hopefully we can do that tomorrow.”

“We have managed to take that gap from five to 10 so although everyone says that we have had a dip in form, we have managed to progress from where we were at the start of that break.

“We knew it was going to be difficult. At the start of the season we had everyone pretty fit, quite stable and in the last three or four weeks we have lost a number of key players.

“Apart from the Old Firm who have big squads and who can rotate quite freely, everyone else has found it difficult because I think we have had four midweek games on the bounce so there was going to be ups and downs but we have managed to progress that lead.

“So yes, we have had two poor results that we are not happy about but we need to look at the bigger picture sometimes and say right, we are still progressing, can we maintain or improve that gap as well?

“The last two games haven’t been good enough, we have the chance to put it right on Saturday.”

Robbie Neilson looked at the bigger picture as Hearts prepared for their Scottish Cup tie against Livingston on the back of two defeats.

A 5-0 hammering by Rangers at Ibrox in the Premiership last weekend was followed by a surprise 2-1 loss at home to struggling Dundee on Wednesday night.

The Jambos fans vented their frustration at the end of that loss even though they remain 10 points clear of fourth-placed Motherwell.

Ahead of the visit of Livi in the fifth round of the cup, Neilson noted that despite the loss of important players such as John Souttar, Craig Halkett and Michael Smith at various times in recent weeks, Hearts have surpassed season landmarks.

“There is going to be bumps in the road through everyone’s career, that’s part of football,” said Neilson, who welcomes back Smith from a back injury with Halkett the only absentee.

“That said, the objective coming into those eight games after the winter break – we are at the last game now – is to make sure we are still in the cup and also try to increase our lead."

Image source, SNS

On Livi's cup clash, David Martindale added: "I think we’re the only club who’ve had premier league opposition in both rounds of the cup.

"I don’t think the result for Hearts on Wednesday is going to help our chances.

"Trying to get to Hampden would be special. We managed to do it last season with no fans and it took a lot away from the occasion."

David Martindale's Livingston have been going about their business quietly and are even above Aberdeen in the league table.

However, their manager is playing down any ambitions they may have in the top half of the table.

He said: "I think there’s probably four or five clubs that can probably try and get into the top six. We’re still concentrating on who is below us rather than who is above us.

"My players can take massive pride in where they’ve been and where they are now.

"I think next year could be a fun year for the football club because we’ll have that continuity. So next year for me is where we can have higher aspirations, this year was all about staying in the Premier League, to be honest."

Image source, SNS

Courts is expecting a tricky assignment on Saturday when the Tangerines travel to Firhill to face Partick Thistle, who are fifth in the cinch Championship and challenging for promotion.

He said: “(Saturday’s) game at Partick Thistle will be similar to the Kilmarnock side that we faced a couple of weeks ago, a top side who will be eager to prove a point and are a Premiership club in stature, so we are under no illusions with the task in hand.

“They’re a team that will undoubtedly have a lot of experience on the pitch and Ian McCall has done a fantastic job with the club.

“It will be a challenge in terms of the pitch, which has been well documented. We are going there fully understanding of the task in hand.”

Adrian Sporle, Kieran Freeman, and Peter Pawlett are ruled out of the Firhill clash with Charlie Mulgrew edging closer to a return.

Image source, SNS

“He’s shown regularly in training that he can operate at this level. He’s a guy that now needs to push and add value to the first team and we’re also understanding that’s he’s still young.

“My job at this football club is to get results, performances but also in the medium to long term provide us with a more sustainable future, and a large part of that is allowing players into a first-team environment and making sure they flourish when called upon.”

Dundee United head coach Tam Courts believes record-breaker Rory MacLeod can become the latest youth academy player to establish himself in the Tannadice first team.

MacLeod became the youngest debutant in United’s history when he replaced Tony Watt near the end of Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Motherwell – six days after his 16th birthday.

Courts, who stepped up to take charge of the first team from the youth set-up last summer, said: “That’s the 14th youth academy graduate that I’ve used this year.

“I haven’t tried to give debuts to players coming through the ranks by token gesture, but instead by being systematic.

“There is also the approach about how we use the young players and in what positions. With a few things not materialising in the transfer market and Louis Appere departing for Northampton, Rory’s opportunity on Wednesday coincided with that.

Image source, SNS

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has indicated Aaron Ramsey could make his first start for the club against Annan Athletic tomorrow evening.

The on-loan Juventus midfielder has made two substitute appearances so far for the Ibrox side.

Van Bronckhorst a added: "A few youngsters will travel also and hopefully they can feature during the game".

"We want to compete in every competition, including the Scottish Cup. Our aim is always to win the cup," said the Dutchman, who won the trophy twice as a player.

Also from Rangers, Filip Helander is expected to play some part at Galabank following a five-month absence, while midfielder Ryan Jack returns to the squad for training, having missed the midweek win over Hibs.

Thumbs up for Peterhead causing an upset

Thumbs down for Dundee progressing

Thumbs up for Celtic seeing this one through

Thumbs down for Raith to upset the odds

Thumbs up for the Arbroath story to write a new chapter and win this cup tie

Thumbs down for Hibs to win this one

Thumbs up for an Annan upset

Thumbs down for Van Bronckhorst's Rangers side progressing