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Scottish Cup | Final
May 25, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
CL

1-2

Edwards (52')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Edouard (62' pen., 82')

Scottish Cup final: Five talking points as Celtic chase triple treble

:Headline: Scottish Cup final: Five talking points as Celtic chase triple treble: ID:360182: from db_amp
Neil Lennon's side can complete a third successive domestic treble with victory at Hampden Park.

Celtic face Hearts in Saturday's William Hill Scottish Cup final.

Here Press Association Sport's Andy Newport takes a look at the big talking points ahead of their Hampden showdown.

One last push for the 'triple treble'

Former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers won back-to-back trebles before leaving to join Leicester (Jeff Holmes/PA)

The last three years have been nectar to the Celtic support, from the Invincible campaign during Brendan Rodgers' first year in Glasgow to last season's 'double treble' triumph. The trophies have continued to roll in and having secured the Ladbrokes Premiership title and Betfred Cup, the Hoops now stand just 90 minutes away from completing a feat that is unlikely ever to be repeated again.

Is this Neil Lennon's last stand?

Parkhead chiefs were left with a dilemma when Rodgers left them in the lurch to join Leicester but bringing Lennon back in a caretaker capacity proved to be the least disruptive option. His first task was to see the team over the line in the race for their eighth straight title and while performances have hardly glistened, the objective was met. Now he must ensure the Hoops do not trip up on the final hurdle this weekend if he wants to have any hope of making his interim appointment permanent.

Craig Levein's trophy quest

Hearts manager Craig Levein has yet to get his hands on a major piece of silverware (Jane Barlow/PA)

Amazing as it sounds given he has operated at the top level for most of his 38 years in the game as both a player and a manager, but the Hearts boss has so far never got his hands on a major piece of silverware. He has come close, most memorably in 1986 when his Jambos side missed out on both the league title and Scottish Cup inside the space of a disastrous week for the Tynecastle faithful. In 2008, the Dundee United team he was managing were denied League Cup glory by Rangers on penalties. Might this finally be the former Scotland manager's year?

Fitness worries ease

Celtic duo Kieran Tierney (left) and James Forrest have declared themselves fit for action this weekend (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Both teams have had their injury problems to contend with in recent weeks. Lennon has rested James Forrest and Kieran Tierney over the past couple of games amid concerns over hamstring and hernia issues respectively but will be in the team alongside skipper Scott Brown, who has shrugged off rumours of a foot injury. Oliver Burke has a knee issue which may yet keep him out but the only other first-team regular out of action is Ryan Christie. Hearts have had an injury nightmare this season, with Olly Lee joining a list of confirmed casualties already containing the names of Steven Naismith, Callumn Morrison, Aidan Keena, Ben Garuccio and Demetri Mitchell. Levein is confident, however, that Uche Ikpeazu, Peter Haring and Arnaud Djoum will be ready.

History favours Hearts

This weekend's clash will be the fourth meeting of the clubs in the final of Scotland's premier cup competition, with the Jambos holding the advantage on two wins to one. The first final showdown came in 1901 as goals from Bobby Walker and Charles Thomson plus a Mark Bell double ensured Hearts edged a 4-3 thriller. Two strikes from Peter Somers plus a Willie Orr goal allowed Celtic to level up six years later. The most recent final face-off came 63 years ago when Ian Crawford's brace, added to another goal from Alfie Conn – father of the future Rangers and Celtic star of the same name – meant the cup went back to Tynecastle after a 3-1 success.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718
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