Killie land chance to repeat Celtic upset
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Your support makes all the difference.Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston is hoping "lightning can strike twice" after the Ayrshire club were drawn at home to Celtic in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.
The Hoops lost for the first time in nine years against Killie when they went down 1-0 at Rugby Park in the Scottish Premier League last week in what was Robbie Keane's debut for the visitors.
After the draw at Hampden, made by snooker World Champion John Higgins and Glasgow businessman Willie Haughey, Johnston said: "I know that Robbie Keane and the other players will have more time to settle in and they will be a different proposition from the team we faced recently, but we've done it once and we can do it again.
"The most important thing was it's at Rugby Park. Obviously there are other teams we would rather have drawn than Celtic. But we beat them last time we played and you never know, lightening can strike twice.
"We are just glad to be in the quarter-finals. It's very important financially and each round you get through means quite a lot, particularly if you are playing at home. But the big thing is getting to the semi-final stage where the gates from the two games at Hampden are pooled and that's what we are working towards now."
Holders Rangers will host Dundee United if they win their fifth-round replay against St Mirren next Wednesday. The Tannadice side could return to the venue where they lost 7-1 in an SPL fixture in December and United chairman Steven Thompson bemoaned his club's lack of luck in cup draws.
"That is our sixth away tie on the trot," he said. "With the way St Mirren are playing you never know but I would have preferred a different draw because you would imagine its away to Rangers.
"I know we had the game against them back in December but there was a hangover from Craig Levein leaving [to become Scotland manager]. This time it's a cup game, a one-off game."
The First Division leaders Dundee will play the winners of Aberdeen's replay against Raith, while first-time quarter-finalists Ross County, who beat Stirling Albion 9-0 in the last round, landed a trip to Hibernian.
County manager Derek Adams said: "They are at home, they really should win the game and so the pressure is off us, without a doubt. Hopefully we can make a wee bit of revenue for the club but it also gives the players a chance to play on the big stage."
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