Celtic and Rangers receive home ties as clubs learn fate in Scottish Cup third round draw

Celtic and Rangers have been handed home ties against lower league opposition in the third round of the Scottish Cup.

The William Hill Scottish Cup trophy.

The draw, which was held at 11am on Sunday morning, was made by former Rangers star Peter Lovenkrands and was broadcast live on the official Scottish Cup Youtube channel.

Celtic will begin their defence of the trophy against either Arbroath or Falkirk, who saw their second round tie at Gayfield on Saturday postponed due to a frozen pitch. The pair will now compete for the right to travel to Celtic Park in the rescheduled fixture on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, last season’s League Two champions, Cove Rangers, managed by former Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley, have earned a third round tie at Ibrox following their 3-2 win over Championship side Alloa Athletic on Saturday.

Aberdeen face either a trip to League One side Dumbarton or a north-east derby against Highland League outfit Huntly, while Hibs will travel to Dumfries to face Championship side Queen of the South, who have former Easter Road favourite Stephen Dobbie among their ranks.

Championship leaders Hearts will host Stranraer if they come through their second round match against either Camelon or Brora Rangers, who will hope to play their first round tie at the seventh attempt on Monday evening.

Other highlights include the only all Premiership tie which will see Hamilton Accies host St Mirren, a potential Highland derby with Ross County drawn at home to either Buckie Thistle or Inverness CT, while Championship title hopefuls Dundee host near neighbours St Johnstone, who will make the short journey to Dens Park from Perth.

The Scottish Cup third round is scheduled to take place on the weekend of January 30.

The full draw is as follows:

Forfar Athletic v Airdrieonians or Edinburgh City

Dundee United v Partick Thistle or Cowdenbeath

Livingston v Stirling Albion or Raith Rovers

Camelon or Brora Rangers or Hearts v Stranraer

Peterhead or Stenhousemuir v Kilmarnock

Rangers v Cove Rangers

Celtic v Arbroath or Falkirk

Ross County v Buckie Thistle or Inverness CT

Queen of the South v Hibs

Dumbarton or Huntly v Aberdeen

East Fife v Morton/Dunfermline

Hamilton Accies v St Mirren

Dundee v St Johnstone

Elgin City or Ayr United v Keith or Clyde

Formartine United or Annan Athletic v Motherwell

Fraserburgh v Nairn County or Montrose

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