Aberdeen Progress To Scottish Cup Quarter-Finals

Another one of our bogey teams could have come back to haunt us in this Scottish Cup 5th round encounter at Pittodrie.

Aberdeen made one change to the side that featured at Pittodrie during midweek against The Rangers, with Scott McKenna suspended, Stevie May filled the void.

Let’s just say the first half was nothing to write home about – whilst Aberdeen had the momentum in the opening half of the game, it soon settled with few and far between opportunities for both sides – we had a few corners but failed to take anything from them.

That all changed in the second-half.  Niall McGinn came on after the break replacing Stevie May and within two minutes he was on the scoresheet after he hit a curling shot beyond Martin.

The Dons lead didn’t last long though, and a wonder effort from Stephen Dobbie from a 35 yard strike hit the back of the net, Lewis had no chance two minutes later.

On the 63rd minute, Aberdeen went 2-1 ahead when a short corner from Gary Mackay-Steven was played to McGinn who crossed it into the box to Andy Considine, who headed into goal.

Then three minutes later, the tie was all but secured, after Cosgrove met a cross from McGinn to head home at the back post.

It was further advantage to the Dons after a soft penalty was awarded to us after a shot from Shay Logan hit Andrew Stirling’s hand.  Sam Cosgrove stepped up to take the shot putting us 4-1 ahead.

In the end it was a comfortable win for the Dons who progress into the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup.

The draw will take place after the Highland derby tomorrow evening at 9.15pm on BBC 2 Scotland.

Derek McInnes said: “I’m very pleased to get through. It wasn’t straightforward, and that’s credit to Queen of the South, Gary’s got them going well. They came up with loads of belief but we were looking for more intensity.

“We defended well for most of the game and kept their front two at bay for the most part – other than the brilliant strike from Stephen Dobbie.

“I felt at half-time that it was important we recognised we had work to do. We had to bring more speed and drive to the second half, and I think it was almost the perfect second-half performance.

“McGinn comes on and makes a contribution – a goal with almost his first touch, and a couple of assists.

“We had a striker here for many years in Adam Rooney who would always hit the 20-goal mark, and what Sam’s doing is testament to his hard work.

“He’s listening, improving, and he looks a proper centre-forward. I do joke with him that if he hadn’t waited until November to start scoring we might be top of the league by now.”

The scores from the rest of the Scottish Cup this weekend:

East Fife 0 v Partick Thistle 1
Hibernian 3 v Raith Rovers 1
St Mirren 1 v Dundee Utd 2
Kilmarnock 0 v The Rangers 0
Celtic 5 v St Johnstone 0
Hearts 4 v Auchinleck Talbot 0
Aberdeen 4 v Queen of the South 1