Rangers Edge Aberdeen to Reach League Cup Final; Perth Neutrals Ready for Edinburgh Derby Semi With Snacks and No Opinions Whatsoever
Naderi's goal sends Rangers to the final. Hearts and Hibs meet today, and Perth pubs prepare to support whichever side has the nicer strips.
Hampden Park, where Perth neutrals go to be extremely neutral. Photo: Dan Kearney, cropped by Blackcat, “Hampden Park (Glasgow) aerial view cropped”, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Rangers are through to the Premier Sports Cup final after a 1-0 win over Aberdeen at Hampden on Saturday, with Naderi scoring the only goal. Hearts and Hibs meet in the second semi-final today in what both clubs have called an “all or nothing” Edinburgh derby.
In Perth, which has no team in either game and very strong feelings about all of them, pubs are preparing for a long afternoon of neutrality.
“I’m completely neutral,” said a man in a South Street bar, wearing a scarf of a team that was not playing. “I want Hearts to win and Hibs to win and both of them to go out. That’s neutral. That’s how neutral works in Perth.”
A barmaid said Edinburgh derbies were always good for business. “Perth people love watching other people get stressed,” she said. “It’s cheaper than going to Edinburgh and getting stressed ourselves.”
Saints fans watching the game said it was all good practice. “One day that’ll be us at Hampden,” said a supporter from Bridgend. “And when it is, I’ll expect everyone in Edinburgh to be neutral. Very neutral. In our favour.”
The real story: Scottish football (BBC Sport)
Letters to the Editor
The views expressed are those of the reader, and frankly that's on them.
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As a neutral I’ll be supporting whoever’s losing at the time. That way I’m happy for at least 45 minutes.
— Colin J., Perth, 1 November 2026 -
Hearts or Hibs? My husband says Hearts, I say Hibs. We’ve agreed to watch it in separate rooms.
— Moira P., Kinross, 1 November 2026
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