Ayr United v Hibernian: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Somerset Park hosts the tie of the fifth round in the 2024/25 Scottish Cup with Championship leaders Ayr United aiming to spring a surprise at home to three-time winners Hibernian.

Ayr United v Hibernian betting tips and predictions

Hibernian to win @ 19/20

Ayr boss Scott Brown knows more than most what it takes to win the Scottish Cup, but the former Celtic skipper's dreams of a return to Hampden Park this year may end on Friday night.

Brown, a six-time winner of the Scottish Cup with the Bhoys, has presided over Ayr's rise to the top of the Championship this season and he will unquestionably fancy that his Honest Men can bring down Hibs, the club where he began his career.

But Ayr, while going impressively well in the second tier, bump into Hibs with the Edinburgh giants also flying a level up.

Bottom of the Premiership at the end of November following a soul-destroying 4-1 drubbing at Dundee, a result that left boss David Gray on the cusp of the sack, Hibs have been nigh-on unstoppable ever since.

Three days after that defeat at Dens Park, Rocky Bushiri snatched an injury-time equaliser in a 3-3 draw at home to Aberdeen and since then they have played another 12 fixtures, winning eight and losing just the one, at Celtic.

From battling relegation before Christmas they head towards the split focused on a return to Europe via their league position, with Saturday's impressive 2-0 win over Aberdeen confirmation that they have finally clicked.

Gray's back three looks rock solid, wing-backs Nicky and Chris Cadden are getting more and more influential and Martin Boyle, with six goals in his last five appearances, is a significant threat.

Confidence is also sky-high at Ayr, who have not lost a game at Somerset Park since October and who are currently on a run of 10 wins and just one loss - 1-0 at Partick - in their last 12 games.

They have kept six clean sheets in their last seven, a run that includes an 8-0 away win at amateurs Broxburn in the previous round.

Promotion is Ayr's key target this year - they last played in the top division way back in 1977-78 - but they will have their work cut out fending off both Falkirk and Livingston, who they head by one and two points respectively.

Livi's extra-time win at Ross County in the last round shows the gulf can be bridged, but Hibs look a cut above the Staggies at the moment and can show their class in front of a healthy travelling support.

Nicky Cadden anytime scorer @ 4/1

Journeyman Nicky Cadden is enjoying a fabulous campaign since heading north of the border and has developed into a goal threat since arriving at Easter Road.

Cadden had four solid seasons in England, helping Forest Green Rovers to the League Two title and then Barnsley into the League One play-offs, before being lured to Edinburgh to reunite with twin brother Chris.

He has shone in manager Gray's wing-back system, patrolling the left side defensively while also helping out in attack.

Indeed, he has contributed five goals in his side's rise up the Premiership table and averages 1.8 shots per game - only Elie Youan and Mykola Kuharevic in the Hibs squad average more.

He scored at the weekend in the 2-0 win at Aberdeen and is a nice price at 4/1 to hit the net at Ayr.

Corner Handicap Hibernian -1 @ 11/10

On the three-way corner handicap market, Gray's top-division visitors might be going under-rated giving just one.

With the tie included it means Hibs need to win two more corners than Ayr to land the bet, but that looks entirely likely.

Ayr are averaging 4.3 corners per home game at Somerset Park this term - and that's in the Championship.

Up a level, against better opponents, Hibs are averaging 5.7 on their travels. That gulf should widen here.

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Ayr United v Hibernian odds

Ayr United - 12/5
Draw - 12/5
Hibernian - 19/20

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.