Highlights: Aberdeen 3-0 Dunfermline Athletic

Kenny Crawford
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie

Pape Gueye, Alexander Jensen and Kevin Nisbet all scored to put Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Dunfermline.

Senegalese forward Gueye, who has missed a chunk of the campaign through injury, headed in his first since September from Ante Palaversa's free-kick seconds before half-time.

Jensen stayed cool to fire in a low shot to give Aberdeen a cushion to control the match, before Nisbet added the third from six yards.

Chris Kane and Archie Stevens nearly pulled the Pars back into the tie but Ross Doohan repelled their efforts.

It is only Aberdeen's second win in 16 outings in all competitions and Dons fans will be desperate this result is the one which eventually turns their fortunes.

The Pars were resolute initially, and Kane was a handful for Kristers Tobers and debutant Mats Knoester, but Michael Tidser's side could not muster the goal they needed.

Scoring has been a problem of late for Aberdeen and Gueye's seventh of the season will be welcomed with open arms.

The hosts had tonnes of attacking possession and a flurry of corners, with Topi Keskinen and Jensen threatening before Gueye's neat nod and you sensed the timing of that goal could be massive for player and club.

Aberdeen built on their advantage early in the second half as January signing Jensen showed great composure to shoot low into the far corner and open his Dons account. Industrious, intelligent and technically sound, the Dane looks like an astute addition.

Dunfermline rallied and thought they had a penalty when Ephraim Yeboah was felled on the edge of the box by substitute Alfie Dorrington. However, VAR intervened to tell referee Steven McLean the offence took place outside the box.

Aberdeen eventually wrapped it up through Nisbet's simple finish. The on-loan Millwall man had earlier hit the post when it looked easier to score, so converting his second golden opportunity should give the former Par a boost.

What they said

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "It's important for us to get through. The new players also did well on the pitch so right now we're happy.

"Our focus point today is how we created our own goals. There's a lot of new players, it was good to see how they conducted themselves.

"We're going to take the positives from this game and use them to try and grow for the next league game."

Dunfermline manager Michael Tidser: "The thing that frustrates me the most is losing the goals just before half-time and just after half-time.

"We had big chances to score but unfortunately we couldn't take them. I'm really proud of the lads, this is a tough place to come and we stood up to it for long spells."

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