Rangers, St Johnstone and ICT reach Scottish Cup quarters

Rangers, St Johnstone and Inverness Caledonian Thistle have all reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup after wins on Saturday, while four Premiership sides face replays.

In the lunchtime kick-off, Rangers were 4-1 winners at Hamilton as Steven Gerrard’s side put in a strong second half performance to settle the tie.

Scott Arfield put the visitors in front when he knocked in the rebound after seeing his penalty stopped by Luke Southwood. Accies suffered further setbacks when Andy Dales and Steve Davies had to go off injured, replaced by Mickel Miller and Marios Ogkmpoe but they drew level through Lewis Smith on 38 minutes.

Joe Aribo put Rangers back in front with just over 20 minutes remaining before an Alfredo Morelos goal and a long-range strike from Arfield put some gloss on the scoreline.

Ayr United had their eye on an upset when they welcomed St Johnstone to Somerset Park and gave the Premiership side cause for concern when they went ahead through Aaron Drinan in the first half.

Hopes faded when Aaron Muirhead scored an own goal to level the score and the Ayr player was later sent off. Moments after the red card Callum Hendry headed Saints in front and Tommy Wright’s side saw out the tie to reach the last eight with a 2-1 win.

There will be one Championship side in the quarters, as Inverness beat Livingston. A second half free kick from Sean Welsh was enough to see off the top flight side.

Motherwell took the lead against St Mirren in Paisley when Mark O’Hara smashed in a shot after 21 minutes. The Steelmen looked to be heading through but with just over quarter of an hour left on the clock, Watford loanee Alex Jakubiak scored his first St Mirren goal to earn a 1-1 draw and a replay at Fir Park.

Aberdeen and Kilmarnock met at Pittodrie but in a difficult match played in howling win, neither side could find the net and they’ll meet again to decide who progresses.

In the late game, Hearts took a place in the last eight with a 1-0 win at Falkirk. Sean Clare scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.