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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Robbie Copeland

Scottish Cup Celtic and Rangers 'hot balls' conspiracy under the microscope as we assess which Premiership sides get most home draws

The Scottish Cup draw always sparks a debate or two, and this year's fourth round was no exception.

Our Kilmarnock -supporting colleague bemoaned Aberdeen's favourable record of home ties after his side were faced with a trip to Pittodrie, but he wasn't the only one complaining.

Cup draw season predictably sees fans of both Celtic and Rangers lament each other's tendency to be drawn at home, while plenty of fans outside the Glasgow rivals seem to think both get an easy ride.

In truth, there are suggestions of conspiracy and draw-fixing all over social media whenever the numbers are pulled out of the hat, so Record Sport have moved to put an end to that with a definitive answer.

It may surprise you to know that it is not in fact Celtic or Rangers , but Hearts who have had the highest percentage of home ties over the last ten seasons.

(SNS Group)

67% of their 18 Scottish Cup draws since the beginning of the 2009/10 season have seen them come out the hat first, with Edinburgh rivals Hibs coming closely behind on 64%.

Rangers have had the most home ties outright with 18 in the same period - so those who have accused the Ibrox side of having plenty home draws can at least feel somewhat vindicated.

The same cannot be said for rivals Celtic, however. While Rangers' 62% is the third-highest in the division, just 10 of the Hoops' 29 ties have taken place on home turf.

Only Hamilton, who have been drawn at home just three times out of 15 over the last ten years, can bemoan a smaller fraction of home draws.

Team % of home ties since 2009/10
Hearts 67%
Hibs 64%
Rangers 62%
Aberdeen 58%
Kilmarnock 58%
Ross County 55%
St Mirren 52%
Motherwell 47%
Livingston 46%
St Johnstone 43%
Celtic 34%
Hamilton 20%

Livingston have played the fewest cup ties of the 12 teams over the last decade - unsurprising considering they have only been in the top flight for 18 months.

Regardless, six of their 13 have come at home putting them on a competitive total of 46%.

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