How Celtic's monopoly of Scottish football's major honours ended - and St Johnstone landed the Betfred Cup

A first-half goal from Shaun Rooney, the right back who had also netted in his side’s quarter-final and semi-final wins, proved enough for them to see off Livingston and clinch the Betfred Cup at a deserted Hampden.

It was a momentous triumph for the Perth club – whose only previous success of note came when they beat Dundee United at Parkhead in the Scottish Cup final in 2014 - and also for the game in this country as a whole.  

Not since Hibernian beat Rangers 3-2 in the Scottish Cup away back on May 21, 2016, had a team other than Celtic, who completed the quadruple treble in December, prevailed in one of the main competitions.  

Unsurprisingly given the magnitude of the accomplishment, Callum Davidson, the former Scotland internationalist who only replaced Tommy Wright at St Johnstone last summer and is in his first managerial role, was overcome afterwards. 

“I’m a bit emotional,” he said. “It’s one of those achievements I’ll probably look back on in 10 years’ time and realise how special it was.

“It’s disappointing the supporters from Perth are not here to enjoy the occasion and make it even more special, but it means just as much to me just now and to my family and friends and everyone involved.  

“I’m not an emotional person. I’m pretty level. I think it’s just the achievement, seeing the joy on the players’ faces and the backroom staff and the board, everyone involved in the club. That’s when it hits home that it means so much to them as well.”

His side started well when Chris Kane and Craig Conway combined to tee up Rooney in the Livingston area in just the third minute. Robby McCrorie, the Rangers loanee who was preferred to Max Stryjek in goals by David Martindale, dealt with his deflected shot comfortably enough. Still, it was encouraging for them.

It was, though, to prove something of a false dawn. Livingston were comfortably the better side in the first-half and created far more in the final third. Efe Ambrose squandered a great chance when he sliced a volley high and wide and Josh Mullin then forced a fine one-handed save from Zander Clark.

 St Johnstone took the lead in the 32nd minute very much against the run of play at a Craig Conway corner. Rooney showed great tenacity to shake off the close attentions of Jon Guthrie and get on the end of the delivery. McCrorie got hand to his header, but was unable to keep it out of his net.

Livingston responded well to falling behind. Scott Robinson supplied Mullin in the opposition penalty box and only a desperate lunge from Callum Booth prevented him from getting his attempt on target. Guthrie also went close after rising to meet an Ambrose cross.

Davidson will doubtless have had a few choice words to say to his men at half-time despite them being narrowly ahead. Whatever he said, it had the desired impact. St Johnstone nearly forged further ahead just two minutes into the second-half.

Ali McCann cut the ball back to David Wotherspoon whose shot was blocked by McCrorie. Kane was well placed to bury the rebound. However, it spun away from him and he failed to make contact.

Martindale threw on Craig Sibbald for Steve Lawson, Alan Forrest for Mullin, Gavin Reilly for Scott Pittman and Jay Emmaunel-Thomas for Jason Holt and the substitutes did lift Livingston. But they were unable to trouble Clark. The St Johnstone defence dealt with whatever was thrown at them and saw out the win.

That none of their fans were present to see Jason Kerr raise the cup aloft after a socially-distanced presentation ceremony due to the coronavirus pandemic was a shame. But Davidson is determined to involve them in some kind of event later this year when lockdown restrictions are eased. 

“It is just one of those things,” he said. “The players will just have to realise that it is the way it is just now. Hopefully we can get something in June when Covid starts to clear and they allow gatherings in Perth.

“It is really important we do it because you do not  win trophies very often – 137 years for St Johnstone to win this one so we need to make sure we celebrate properly.”

Murray Davidson, the experienced St Johnstone midfielder who missed the Scottish Cup triumph seven years ago as a result of a knock, was ruled out of the final as a result of the injury he suffered against Rangers at Ibrox last month. But he could at least join in with the festivities.