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Callum Davidson issues rallying cry to St Johnstone ahead of cup final

Callum Davidson issues rallying cry to St Johnstone ahead of cup final
© Reuters
The Perth club won their first major trophy when they beat Dundee United in the 2014 Scottish Cup final.

Boss Callum Davidson wants St Johnstone to grab their chance to build on limited cup success when they face Livingston in the Betfred Cup final.

The Perth club won their first major trophy when they beat Dundee United in the 2014 Scottish Cup final after previously losing two League Cup finals to Celtic in 1969 and Rangers in 1998.

Looking forward to the trip to Hampden Park on Sunday, the former St Johnstone and Scotland defender said: "It is a huge game if you look at the history of the club. We don't get there very often.

"It is only three times before so I think it is a massive opportunity to try to land a major trophy, probably a bit like Livingston.

"We are probably both very similar and it is a great opportunity for either club to win one.

"It is just a little disappointing that it is a time of Covid-19 for fans but I don't think that will take away from the game and what it means to the players and to be the first group of players to win the Betfred Cup would be a massive achievement.

"In 20 years' time they can look back and say they were the first team to win the Betfred Cup with St Johnstone.

"I would be delighted but most importantly it is about the players and I hope they achieve what I know they can achieve.

"They are a good team, they have played a lot of good football this season and hopefully they turn up on Sunday and put in a really good performance and hopefully we can get something out of it."

Davidson, who was number two to Tommy Wright when Saints won the Scottish Cup – and who has had coaching roles at Stoke City and Dunfermline as well as being assistant manager to Gary Rowett at Millwall – believes a second cup win in seven years would encapsulate a successful period in the Perth club's history.

He said: "It (the final) shows you where we are as a club and where we have been.

"It is a great period.

"We have had some tough times and supporters and people around St Johnstone and Perth should try and enjoy it as much as they can.

"It is difficult just now but it would be a great achievement if, in seven years, we could add the Betfred to the Scottish Cup."

The former Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City and Preston North End player believes the showpiece occasion against their Scottish Premiership rivals is "definitely" a 50-50 game.

He said: "Livingston's form has been tremendous and our form has been quite good as well.

"I think it is anybody's game and the first goal will be crucial.

"Livingston are fantastic when they get the first goal in games so we have got to make sure we are strong defensively and don't give them opportunities to score because once they do that, they are very hard to play against.

"Hopefully we get the first one and the game will open up and we will see what happens after that."

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General view of Almondvale Stadium, home to Livingston, from 2005
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1RangersRangers3127407496585
2Celtic31207465234267
3Hibernian30157841281352
4Aberdeen3113993230248
5Livingston30117123636040
6St Mirren31109122934-539
7Dundee UnitedDundee Utd31811122843-1535
8St Johnstone31810133240-834
9Motherwell3188152846-1832
10Ross County3075182254-3226
11Kilmarnock3174202743-1625
12Hamilton AcademicalHamilton3067172957-2825

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