Shayden Morris says Aberdeen are determined to atone for their 6-0 League Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic in November when they return to Hampden for the Scottish Cup last four. (Daily Record), external
Aberdeen fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's comfortable Scottish Cup quarter-final victory over Queen's Park.
Here's what some of you had to say:
Karl: I believe playing alongside a clever front partner in Oday Dabbagh has really benefited Kevin Nisbet. He's able to find space more easily and his confidence is flowing. I would be delighted if we could do a deal with Milwall to keep him.
Gary: Apart from a dodgy five-minute spell, we absolutely dominated the game. If we have any sense we sign Nisbet now. Delighted for Graeme Shinnie also, he deserves all the adulation. There has been a lot of criticism of the management team, but Jimmy Thelin is getting the team and style he wants.
David: Assured solid performance, no banana skin moments at all, roll on the semi-final.
Paul: Feeling more positive suddenly for the rest of the season. Every game a cup final from now on, see where it takes us. A great team performance today. Leighton Clarkson and Ante Palaversa ran the game and loving Shinnie back at left-back with his infectious enthusiasm. Onwards and upwards.
Dick: An assured performance from Aberdeen, they have found a structure in the team where they can control matches with Clarkson bossing the show. Nisbet is now on fire and Shayden Morris is too hot to handle. The next target is to be sure of reaching the top six.
Ben: It's only Queen's Park, but there was so much to like about that performance. For once our attack looked threatening, and it looked like the scoreline could have been five or six to us. At times you could really feel that we were going to score, especially after Nisbet's opener, who played amazing by the way. Let's take this performance into the league.
Hibernian winger Junior Hoilett has revealed he encouraged his former Aberdeen teammate Jamie McGrath to follow him to Easter Road, with McGrath joining on a pre-contract agreement this summer. (Daily Record), external
Aberdeen sealed their passage to the Scottish Cup semi-finals in comfortable fashion as they put Queen's Park adventures in the competition to an end.
Goals from Kevin Nisbet, Oday Dabbagh and Graeme Shinnie did the business for Jimmy Thelin's side before Zak Rudden got one back for the visitors.
What did you make of that, Aberdeen fans? Who impressed you?
And how confident do you feel about your chances of lifting the Scottish Cup?
Image source, SNSAberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin told BBC Scotland: "I'm really happy. It's not always easy to find the right rhythm. In the first five minutes they got some good crosses in, got some opportunities.
"Then we found our rhythm and started playing better as a team. It was a good performance.
[On Kevin Nisbet] "He works hard on the training ground, pushes himself before and after training. It's always nice to see when people get repaid for the effort they put in.
"That's another thing we always try and work on - we are trying to be more intense in training and everybody has to cope with that and raise the standard of the team."
[On Graeme Shinnie] "He did really well. 600 games is a lot - I'm so proud of how he still has that hunger. He gives energy to the team, in training sessions, off the pitch, on the pitch. I'm so happy to have a player with that mentality."
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSQueen's Park showed at Ibrox what they were made of. Determined not to be broken down, they should have proved a really tough test for Aberdeen.
However, the professional and clinical nature of the Dons' performance ground their visitors down early, as Jimmy Thelin's side put in one of their best performances in months to seal another trip to Hampden.
Ante Palaversa showed his class in the midfield, while Shayden Morris laid down a real claim to become a starter with a fine showing on the wing.
Kevin Nisbet and Oday Dabbagh seem to be striking up a fine partnership up top, and both have hit form at the right time of the season.
It was on the wings where they found their real strength. Topi Keskinen and Morris were a nightmare all day, ably backed up by Graeme Shinnie and Alexander Jensen supporting from deep.
It was a performance where everything clicked. If Aberdeen can repeat that type of showing in the league, they will feel confident about regaining third place from Hibs.
Image source, SNSKevin Nisbet is embraced by Ante Palaversa (right)
Chosen by Sportscene pundit Stephen McGinn, who said: "It was tricky [picking player of the match] on a day where Oday Dabbagh scored twice, Kevin Nisbet showed his quality, Shayden Morris was outstanidng,
"Maybe I'm showing some midfield bias, but I've really enjoyed watching Ante Palaversa play.
"He's got two assists, his range of passing, the mark he's put on this game, he's been the best player on the pitch for me."
Image source, SNSThe draw for the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup will take place on Monday after the Livingston v St Johnstone game (19:45 GMT kick-off) on BBC Scotland.
Hearts have already booked their place thanks to a 3-1 win over Dundee.
Aberdeen host Queen's Park on Saturday - live on BBC One Scotland - and Hibs visit holders Celtic on Sunday.
Image source, SNSAberdeen loanee Ryan Duncan can't play against his former club
Ester Sokler, Dante Polvara and Jack Milne are back in contention for Aberdeen but Kristers Tobers will just miss out.
Vicente Besuijen (knee), Jamie McGrath and Gavin Molloy (both shoulder) remain sidelined.
Ryan Duncan is ineligible to face his parent club while Queen's Park are also without the cup-tied Ben Jackson and Leon King.
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin is braced for another tight game against a Queen's Park side looking to follow up their Ibrox giantkilling by knocking the Dons out of the Scottish Cup.
Aberdeen welcome the Championship side to Pittodrie in the quarter-finals on Saturday, live on BBC One Scotland.
It is the sides' second meeting this season after the Dons needed a 92nd-minute winner from Topi Keskinen to beat the Spiders in the League Cup group stage last August.
"Every game is a new game but I was really impressive by them," said Thelin. "We have played them before, we won with more or less the last shot of the game.
"Cup games are always intense, it is always small margins and we have to be really sharp.
"I feel we are ready, we are playing at home at Pittodrie again with our supporters, we had a really strong second half in the last game and I think we are improving every week now."
While the Dons fought back from 2-0 down for a point against Dundee United last weekend, Thelin has stressed the importance of his side starting well.
He said: "That is what we are pushing for. We have had some games this season when we haven't started the way we want.
"We were two down against Dundee United but I think the start of the game was quite good. But we also know we have players in the squad that can change the game in the second half.
"But we need to improve at home in the start of the games and that is what we are focused on tomorrow."
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSAberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Scottish Cup quarter-final with Queen's Park at Pittodrie.
Here are the key things he said:
Thelin heaped praise on his captain, Graeme Shinnie, who is set to reach an "incredible" milestone of 600 club games.
The manager said the Dons "have to be really sharp and ready" for a Queen's Park side who beat Rangers in the last round. When asked what sort of warning that was, he said, "every game is a new game".
Championship side Queen's Park are a really good side with a good manager, added Thelin.
On onlookers suggesting Aberdeen are among the favourites to win the Scottish Cup, the manager assured he's not looking beyond the Spiders but that, "we have to believe in ourselves".
"Improving the start of home games," is an ambition for the manager.
Thelin confirmed Ester Sokler, Jack Milne and Dante Polvara are all back from injury, "we have strong competition now".
Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSTopi Keskinen scored Aberdeen's winner against Queen's Park in August
Queen's Park were the story of the previous round, knocking out Rangers at Ibrox and contributing to the eventual demise of Ibrox manager Philippe Clement.
It is not only that historic result - the first side outside the top tier to have beaten Rangers in the cup on their own patch - that ensures there will be no element of surprise this time when they visit Aberdeen in this weekend's second Scottish Cup quarter-final on Saturday.
The Spiders have visited Pittodrie once before this season, when top-flight Aberdeen had to wait until stoppage time before Topi Keskinen's solitary goal secured progress in August to the League Cup quarter-finals.
Including Ibrox, Callum Davidson's side are three unbeaten on the road, all without conceding, but will need to recover from Tuesday's 3-2 home defeat by Ayr United that leaves them down in sixth place in the Championship.
Jimmy Thelin's hosts have themselves dropped to fourth in the top flight after a 5-1 thumping at Celtic Park and Sunday's 2-2 draw at home to Dundee United.
However, the Dons' recent inconsistency is at least an improvement on their previous dismal run of one win in 15, they have now only lost once in five outings and they are unbeaten in their latest three at home.
Which all points against Queen's Park causing another major shock in front of a live television audience on BBC One Scotland and BBC iPlayer. Then again, that 2023 humiliation by sixth-tier Darvel is still fresh in Aberdeen's memory.
Aberdeen lost in the cup semi-finals on penalties to eventual winners Celtic last season.
Queen's Park last reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals in the 1927–28 season, when they lost to Celtic.
The Spiders last reached the quarter-finals in the 1981–82 season, losing 2-1 at home to Forfar Athletic.
Queen's Park have not beaten Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup since their first-ever meeting in November 1889 - when the Glasgow side won 13-1 away from home.
However, Queen's Park did beat the Dons on penalties in the League Cup in 2006 after 0-0 draw.
Aberdeen lifted the cup for a seventh time in 2014.
Queen's Park won cup for their 10th and final time in 1893.
Image source, SNSCallum Davidson reckons his Queen's Park side are facing "one of the favourites" for the Scottish Cup when they visit Aberdeen on Saturday.
Davidson, who famously won a domestic cup double in 2021 with St Johnstone, guided his current side to a memorable upset in the previous round against Rangers at Ibrox.
Another away trip against a top-flight team awaits at Pittodrie, where the Dons are unbeaten in their previous three games.
"We've knocked one of the favourites out, now we're playing another one of the favourites," Davidson said.
"So it's really important that, can we do something? Can we do something special? That's why you play the game. That's why you play sport.
"You don't play sport just to accept things. You play sport to try and achieve things. And we'll try and do that on Saturday."
Despite Aberdeen's stop-start form lately, they will be buoyed by their late two-goal comeback against Dundee United to rescue a point at the weekend, with Davidson well aware his side will have to be at their best to be in with a chance of cup progression.
"But you know what? It comes down to the game," he adds.
"We've just got to make sure we perform. If we don't perform well, we don't win. I accept that.
"But I just want the boys to be brave and have a go."
We asked you to tell us the one thing nobody's talking about at Aberdeen.
Here's what some of you said:
David: An endemic problem at Aberdeen for many years has been our inability to keep clean sheets, despite numerous defensive changes and formations! If this is not resolved a European place is going to be beyond us this season.
Malky: I would have to go back several months and reiterate that the problem lies with how open and easy to attack we are. We are so fragile defensively. We have somehow stopped attacking with pace and everything is utterly predictable as well. If we can find a middle ground with both of these issues, we will be absolutely fine and more! COYR!
Fred: For me it is the lack of defending consistency and these are now mainly players bought under the new management team. I also wonder about the training regime as we have so many injuries but my main concern is the lack of opportunity given to the young players with real potential.
Douglas: Ageing legs in midfield. A solution is key to turning some talented individuals into a dynamic team.
Scott: We have used eight different players at centre-back with various pairings and still leak soft goals. It must be the tactics and manager's zonal system as not all these players can be at fault.
Kieran: Nobody is talking about how good we will be next season, I believe we will be. Thelin and some players will have more experience because of the Scottish game and be more confident.
After three successive wins, a 5-1 defeat by Celtic and a 2-2 draw with Dundee United leaves Jimmy Thelin's Aberdeen fourth in the Scottish Premiership, just one point behind Hibs in third.
After an up-and-down campaign, the Dons are still in the hunt for European football and host Queen's Park in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
You know your club best, so what is the one thing regarding Aberdeen - good or bad - nobody is talking about at Pittodrie?
Glen Schreuder
Fan writer
Character has been questioned in recent weeks at Pittodrie and at 2-0 down without a shot on target after an hour, fans had a lot of questions for Jimmy Thelin's side.
A change of personnel and a Kevin Nisbet brace earned what could prove to be a valuable point against Dundee United in the race for that coveted third place.
The concern for Thelin will be how many players were off the pace in that first hour, alarming given the importance of the fixture and the upcoming important games.
The crumb of comfort I will take is that, not only did the crowd stick with the team, but the players' heads didn't drop, they stuck to the task and staged a rousing comeback.
Some may feel it is two points dropped, and maybe last month we wouldn't have come back.
One thing we need to see is a more complete performance, rather than 20-minute spells.
Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external
A new £300m project – which will include a new stadium for Aberdeen and is being compared to the planned redevelopment of Old Trafford – has been unveiled for Aberdeen beach. (Press & Journal)
Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.
Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator
Aberdeen showed excellent battling qualities to come from two goals down and rescue a point against Dundee Utd on Sunday.
A month or so ago such an act of escapology may have been beyond them so in that regard there was tangible proof there is something of a spark there.
However, it was yet another poor start to a game. Aberdeen's first-half performances have been a problem all season, even when they were rampaging through that scarcely believable first quarter of the season.
With the exception of the win over Rangers at the end of October, when they should have been out of sight by half-time, they have been way too slow out of the traps.
It was the same story on Sunday as they found themselves in a hole at the break and once again Jimmy Thelin had to make changes before the second 45 got under way, with Jeppe Okkels and Jack MacKenzie sacrificed.
What we saw in the second half was a determined performance yet the Dons need to find a way of starting games in that manner. A lot of the play in that first half was too ponderous with the forward players taking too many touches when shots at goal were on.
The goals conceded were extremely cheap, which has been another constant throughout the winter months. It could prove to be an important point, but equally it could prove to be a costly two dropped although the Dons fans would have taken a draw as the match ticked into stoppage time.
And so attention returns to the Scottish Cup and a visit from Rangers' conquerors Queen's Park.
Aberdeen know all about the Championship side's qualities having faced them in the League Cup group stage and although they won that one, they were reliant on a late debut goal from Topi Keskinen.
However, it is a home tie against lower-league opposition and Thelin has an enormous opportunity to take the club back to Hampden as they look to end three-and-a-half decades of pain and misery in the tournament.
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
The Dons don't do it the easy way.
Aberdeen came from behind to snatch a vital point at home to Dundee United, and the man to thank for that comeback makes my team of the week.
There's been question marks over Kevin Nisbet's contribution at times this season, but he proved his worth with two huge goals to grab an important draw for Aberdeen against Dundee United. He has a great instinct for goalscoring.
We asked for your views after came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Dundee United.
Here's what some of you said:
John: A great point. Whatever Jimmy said to them at half-time certainly worked, a team of two halves. Nisbet is looking sharper every game. We know what we have to do, win every game until the split and then take it from there. Great crowd and atmosphere on Sunday, long may it continue.
Mark: Great strength of character by Aberdeen. If the team stop conceding soft goals, more wins will start to happen. Thank goodness the days of negative Goodwin football are gone for us!
Mike: We're still a long way from the finished article, lots of possession but not much end product. To be honest, we're nowhere near the third best team so any European place would be good from here. All in all, a thoroughly disappointing season after our start.
William: Teams don't have to work particularly hard to score against this Aberdeen team. We were worth a point on second half effort but had we started the game this way, we wouldn't have been chasing it. Once again we've assembled a squad of good individuals that can't play as a team.
Paul: Very lucky to get a draw. The whole team looked disinterested for most of the game. My patience with Thelin has all but gone. Its now his team, yet he still persists with players who aren't performing week in, week out. Clueless manager, clueless players, roll on the end of another rubbish season.
Eilidh: Jimmy Thelin is the man for Aberdeen but his favouritism for certain players is his downfall. Jeppe Okkels nowhere near good enough to be starting, he also makes Topi Keskinen weaker by being on the left. Shadyen Morris deserves to start over him. All our games up until the split are must win now.
