National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Cove Rangers or Hibernian that keep their silverware dream alive.
There has not been much time to rest for the guests, as they played a League Cup game only three days ago.
This stadium uses artifical turf, unlike Hibernian's home stadium. The visitors last nine games on artifical turf have ended in 3 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses.
Cove Rangers form and stats
Last season their League Cup adventure ended in the group stage.Cove Rangers have been outstanding at home so far in the League Two with 14 wins, 0 draws and only 0 losses. The Cove Rangers fans aren't used to losing league-games here at Balmoral Stadium and will expect new points from this game. Cove has played 33 games in a row here without a defeat. The team is able to perform also as the away side, as they are nurturing a very healthy winning streak of five straight victories regardless of arena.
It's back home for Cove, who return with a good feeling about themselves after beating Stirling Albion away with the result 7-1. M. Megginson (2), J. Masson (2), Jordon Brown, H. Milne and F. Fyvie found the net in that victory. Previous to that game, a League Two home match hosting Brechin City in a game that was won 3-2.
As mentioned above, Cove Rangers "killed" Stirling Albion in their previous game. They need to reset completely for this one and beware of complacency.
There's a new game coming up fairly quickly for Cove as they are travelling to their away game against Brora Rangers in the League Cup. That match is three days after this one.
Cove Rangers are showing their attacking force in their league home games this season, scoring more than 2,5 goals per game on average (37 goals in 14 games). It's been trouble in front of goal recently, as only -1 of these goals has been scored in their last three home matches. Defensively Cove Rangers have been outstanding, conceding less than half a goal on average per home game in the league (7 in 14 games). For more goal stats, check the Statistics tab above. There's been improvement defensively lately, as only -1 of these goals has been conceded in their last 3 home matches.
Hibernian form and stats
Last season their League Cup adventure ended in the semi-finals.That result followed a home victory 3-2 versus Hamilton Academical in the Premiership.
The visitors will be packing their bags again in only three days as another away game awaits: The League Cup trip to Forfar Athletic.
Head 2 Head
Top Goalscorers
  K. Nisbet 6 goals |  M. Boyle 3 goals |  C. Doidge 3 goals |
Cove Rangers missing players
Hibernian missing players
| Cove Rangers | Hibernian | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 11 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 18 | 11 | Won | W | 7 | 14 | ||
| 1 | 0 | Drew | D | 2 | 6 | ||
| 6 | 0 | Lost | L | 3 | 5 | ||
| 59 | 26 | Scored | S | 21 | 49 | ||
| 29 | 5 | Conceded | C | 14 | 32 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 92% | 92% | ||
| 88% | 91% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 75% | 80% | ||
| 72% | 64% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 75% | 76% | ||
| 40% | 18% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 33% | 44% | ||
| 24% | 9% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 17% | 20% | ||
| 52% | 36% | BTTS | BTTS | 58% | 68% | ||
| 36% | 64% | Clean Sheets | C S | 33% | 24% | ||
| 12% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 17% | 16% | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1.6 | 1.2 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2 | 1.6 | ||
| 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 1 | ||
| 389 | 195 | Total Shots | T S | 106 | 253 | ||
| 162 | 81 | Shots on Target | S O | 48 | 112 | ||
| 35% | 28% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 40% | 42% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Dundee | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | Hibernian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Cove Rangers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Brora Rangers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| 5 | Forfar Athletic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Cove Rangers | 28 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 76 | 34 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 39 | 27 | 42 | 68 |
| 2 | Edinburgh City | 27 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 49 | 28 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 9 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 55 |
| 3 | Elgin City | 28 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 48 | 34 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 30 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 43 |
| 4 | Cowdenbeath | 27 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 37 | 35 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 2 | 41 |
| 5 | Queen's Park | 28 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 37 | 35 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 18 | 2 | 40 |
| 6 | Stirling Albion | 28 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 34 | 35 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 21 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 14 | -1 | 36 |
| 7 | Annan Athletic | 27 | 9 | 4 | 14 | 33 | 54 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 32 | -21 | 31 |
| 8 | Stenhousemuir | 28 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 32 | 48 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 19 | -16 | 29 |
| 9 | Albion Rovers | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 37 | 51 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 23 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 28 | -14 | 24 |
| 10 | Brechin City | 27 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 31 | 60 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 25 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 35 | -29 | 17 |