The fifth round draw wasn’t particularly kind to any of the three Tayside teams left in the Scottish Cup.
Dundee will be happiest of the trio if they can get past Inverness Caley Thistle in a replay, as their home clash with Motherwell will be at Dens.
Dundee United and St Johnstone have got huge tasks in front of them if they are to make it through to the quarter-finals, though.
United renew their historic rivalry with Aberdeen at Pittodrie, while Saints (if they get past Albion Rovers in the rearranged game at Cliftonhill tomorrow night) will travel to Tynecastle to play Hearts, the winners of yesterday’s Edinburgh derby.
If the draw wasn’t ideal for the Perth club, the same could be said for Hearts, whose boss Craig Levein said: “It will be tough.
“The odds would say that St Johnstone will get through past Albion Rovers.
“We haven’t had a great time against St Johnstone in recent seasons so it will be tough. But I’m glad the game is at home.”
One of the results of the draw is that at least two non-Premiership sides are assured of being in the last eight.
Full draw –
Formartine United/Cove Rangers v Livingston/Falkirk
Morton v Peterhead/Dumbarton
Hearts v Albion Rovers/St Johnstone
Kilmarnock v Brora Rangers
Ayr United v Fraserburgh/Rangers
Aberdeen v Dundee United
Dundee/ICT v Motherwell
Celtic v Partick Thistle
The ties will take place on the weekend of February 10 and 11.
