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Two teams from the Scottish Premiership are set to clash in the Scottish FA Cup on Monday evening, as St Mirren welcomes Hearts to the SMISA Stadium for their fifth-round encounter. With a spot in the quarter-finals on the line, both sides will be eager to take another step towards cup success, hoping to lift the prestigious trophy at the end of the season.

St Mirren's journey this season has been marked by inconsistency. Their league campaign began in a less than ideal fashion, managing just two victories in their first 10 games. However, they managed to turn things around to some extent, securing six wins in their following 10 fixtures. Despite their efforts, the team has continued to struggle for consistency, with only two victories in their last seven matches across all competitions. Encouragingly, those two triumphs have come in their previous three outings, suggesting a possible upturn in form as they approach this crucial cup tie.

One of their recent victories came in the previous round of the Scottish Cup, where they overcame Queen of the South with a 3-1 victory, largely thanks to a brace from Toyosi Olusanya. This win has kept their hopes alive of adding another Scottish Cup title to their history, having lifted the trophy three times in the past. However, it has been nearly four decades since their last triumph in 1987, when they secured a 1-0 win over Dundee United in the final. More recently, they reached the semi-finals in 2020, only to fall short against St Johnstone in a narrow 2-1 defeat.

If St Mirren aspires to end their long wait for another cup triumph, they must address their struggles in front of goal. In the current Scottish Premiership season, only three teams have scored fewer goals than the 30 they have managed in 25 league matches. Their attacking inefficiency has been particularly evident in recent weeks, as they have failed to find the net in four of their last five league outings. This lack of cutting edge has contributed to their inconsistent performances and will be a significant concern heading into Monday’s clash against Hearts.

Despite these struggles, St Mirren remains in contention for a top-six finish, a feat they have achieved in the past two seasons. Currently sitting in eighth place in the league table, they are just a single point behind sixth-placed Motherwell, keeping them firmly in the race for a higher league position. A strong result in the Scottish Cup could serve as a confidence booster for their league ambitions as well.

On the other hand, Hearts arrive at this fixture in much better form compared to their opponents. The Edinburgh-based club has experienced a resurgence in recent weeks, having lost just once in their last 10 matches. This impressive turnaround has been overseen by Neil Critchley, who took over the managerial reins following the dismissal of Steven Naismith in September. At the time of Naismith’s departure, Hearts were struggling massively, sitting at the bottom of the league and enduring an eight-match losing streak across all competitions. However, since Critchley's appointment, the team has shown notable improvement, winning six of their last 10 games and putting themselves back in the mix for a top-four finish in the Scottish Premiership.

While their league campaign is important, Hearts’ immediate focus will be on progressing to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup. Historically, they have been one of the most successful teams in the competition, having won the trophy eight times. However, their last triumph came 13 years ago, and since then, they have fallen short in three finals. Last season, they reached the semi-finals but were eliminated after a 2-0 loss to Rangers. With recent improvements under Critchley, Hearts will be determined to go further in the tournament this time around.

One of the key strengths of Hearts in recent weeks has been their attacking prowess. Since the beginning of the year, they have scored 15 goals while conceding only three, a stark contrast to St Mirren’s goal-scoring struggles. Their offensive strength was on full display in their most recent league fixture, as they dismantled Dundee with a dominant 6-0 victory. This emphatic performance showcased their ability to capitalize on goal-scoring opportunities, which could be crucial against a St Mirren side that has struggled defensively.

Hearts secured their place in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup with an equally commanding display, defeating Brechin City 4-1 in the previous round. Despite falling behind early in the match, they quickly regained control, with Elton Kabangu playing a pivotal role by scoring twice to lead the comeback. Their ability to turn games around and assert dominance in attack makes them a formidable opponent for St Mirren, who will need to significantly improve their defensive resilience.

One factor working in Hearts’ favor is their recent head-to-head record against St Mirren. In their last meeting back in October, Hearts secured an emphatic 4-0 victory, which marked Critchley’s first match in charge and their first league win of the season. That performance highlighted the gap in quality between the two sides at the time, and Hearts will be looking to replicate that display in their upcoming encounter.

However, St Mirren does have a reason for optimism, as they managed to defeat Hearts in their last home meeting at the SMISA Stadium. Back in September, they claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Edinburgh club, showcasing their ability to perform well on home soil. Given the unpredictable nature of cup competitions, they will be hoping to channel that same energy and determination to pull off an upset.

Defensively, Hearts have a notable advantage, with St Mirren struggling to keep clean sheets throughout the season. In the league, the Buddies have managed to register only three shutouts, with only Dundee recording fewer clean sheets. This defensive vulnerability could prove costly against a Hearts side that has been in ruthless attacking form.

As the two teams prepare to face off on Monday evening, the stakes are undeniably high. St Mirren will be determined to capitalize on their home advantage and improve their recent form in front of goal. Meanwhile, Hearts will be looking to extend their impressive run under Critchley and continue their pursuit of silverware. With both sides eager to progress, this Scottish Cup encounter promises to be a fiercely contested battle with plenty of drama in store.