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PETER Houston insists there is enough quality in the Championship for a team from beyond the Premiership to go all the way in this season’s Scottish Cup.
Hibs became the first team from outwith the top-flight to lift the trophy in 78 years when they prevailed in May in the first final ever in the 142-year history of the competition to be played between two ‘lower league’ teams.
Houston’s Falkirk also gave themselves a shot at glory when they reached the final two years ago before losing narrowly to Inverness Caley Thistle.
And, with tomorrow’s opponents, Morton, having reached the semi-finals of the Betfred Cup earlier this season, Houston believes there is a distinct possibility of another ‘giant-killing’ side emerging this term.
The former Scotland number two, who avoided a shock when he led Dundee United to their cup triumph against Ross County in 2010, said: “In one-off games anything can happen. You can’t rule anything out.
“In 2010, Ross County and Raith Rovers were in the semi-finals, and Ross County beat Celtic to make the final against Dundee United.
“Morton were very close against Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final this season, and you had Hibs and Rangers in a great Scottish Cup final last season.
“If Premiership teams rest on their laurels there are good enough Championship teams to beat them.
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“I would say the top four in the Championship, anyway, can cause an upset.
“That’s the beauty of the cup, and you see it not only in Scotland but in England as well.
“David can beat Goliath, as they say.”
Houston, who this week recruited Rangers wide man Fraser Aird on a deal for the remainder of the season, still rues Falkirk’s defeat to Inverness in the 2015 final.
And he is fully aware of the size of the task facing the Bairns on Saturday against a Morton team who have suffered just one loss in their last 13 league matches and who are unbeaten since March at Cappielow.
Houston added: “The Scottish Cup for the supporters is big and the Scottish Cup for the club is big.
“We had a bit of success the season before last in getting to the cup final and it’s a cup final I still say we should have won.
“But we enjoy cup ties and we’re looking forward to it. We know it’s a tough tie, but I would like to think it’s a tough tie for Morton as well.
“They’re the form side, they’ll go in as favourites, but that might suit us.”
