Aberdeen

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

The draw for the fifth round of the Scottish Cup provided a very apt tie as Aberdeen and Dunfermline Athletic were paired in the fight for a quarter-final berth.

It comes in the week the sad news was announced that Jimmy Calderwood had lost his battle with dementia. He managed both and provided Dons and Pars supporters with memories that will last a lifetime.

It mustn't be forgotten how far down the hole Aberdeen had gone after several botched managerial appointments in the late 1990s and at the turn of the century.

The decade between winning the League Cup in 1995 and Calderwood taking the reins was pretty grim for Dons fans, with the odd win over the big Glasgow two and two cup final appearances under Ebbe Skovdahl about the extent of the pleasure they could draw from their team.

Club legend Willie Miller arrived back at Pittodrie in 2004 in the role of director of football and Calderwood was in situ not long after to replace Steve Paterson with the team languishing in second bottom having jostled with the spectre of relegation more than once in previous seasons.

Calderwood signed Hearts midfielder Scott Severin, breathed life into what was already in the building and the Dons improved almost immediately. They were unfortunate to miss out on third place in that first campaign.

They finished behind Tony Mowbray's talented Hibernian team that was content to lose 1-0 at home to Rangers on the final day as it meant they could pip Calderwood's men to a spot in the Uefa Cup on goal difference. It was the lesser-spoken about tale on Helicopter Sunday. That result left Aberdeen needing a five-goal victory over Hearts, but they ultimately had to settle for 2-0.

Calderwood built on it, however, and Aberdeen were never out of the top six during his steady tenure though it was cup defeats to lower-league opponents that cost him the job in the end.

Having spoken to him about it, that was a massive regret of his, particularly the calamitous Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Queen of the South in 2008 with a Rangers side running on empty waiting in the final.

However, history will be kind to Calderwood and his time at the club by those who watched the side, with those memorable European exploits against Dnipro, Copenhagen and Bayern Munich incredible high points.

A good man gone but not forgotten.

Aberdeen can still have a fruitful season by clinching European qualification, says manager Jimmy Thelin. (Record), external

Thelin is up for the fight to take the Dons into Europe. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Phil Mair
Fan writer

With 13 days left in the window, all eyes will be on Aberdeen Airport, Cormack Park and social media for all the latest faces and names linked with the club.

In what is typically a tough signing month because of higher prices and a limited pool of players, as well as being a window the Dons have a very varied history of success with, it has been refreshing to see deals being completed early and for sizable (rumoured) fees.

There can be no doubts the club are backing Jimmy Thelin to bring in the calibre of players required for his system. Kristers Tobers and Alexander Jensen have both excited fans in their early appearances, with other new arrivals Jeppe Okkels and Alfie Dorrington looking to get up to speed and show the Red Army what they are all about.

The Scottish Cup win against Elgin City - which has set up a fifth-round tie at home to Dunfermline - saw the comeback of Pape Gueye from injury, which everyone will be hoping is the return of an, albeit unexpected, goal machine.

However, the recent winless run further highlighted the need for reinforcements at the top end of the park.

I know Jimmy will have been working closely with the head of recruitment to identify players that fit his system and whoever comes in will get the full backing of the fans. Although if you want my two cents, I will keep pitching Richard Kone from Wycombe!

Hopefully, if a new number nine is to come in this window, they follow the fortunes of previous January acquisitions Adam Rooney and Sam Cosgrove as opposed to the triple January loan of Lewis Hornby, Florian Kamberi and Callum Hendry.

Phil Mair can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Zander Diamond remembers his late former Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood as "a true gentleman and a father figure". (Record), external

Ex-Aberdeen captain Russell Anderson pays tribute to "big personality" Calderwood, who has passed away at the age of 69 and managed the Dons from 2004-2009. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Full-back Nicky Devlin hopes Aberdeen's 3-0 weekend Scottish Cup win at Elgin City can be the catalyst to an upturn in form and winning the trophy for the first time in 35 years. (Record), external

Devlin, 31, praises the impact of the Dons' January signings. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 3-0 win against Elgin City.

Here's what some of you said:

Malky: Can't really gauge anything from this game, a clean sheet, plenty of chances and could and should have been more. I honestly think we are a competent striker away from getting back at it with regards to the League. Slobodan Rubezic should be moved on though, he's a constant liability. Anyway, onto the next round and get the season back on track, hopefully!

Fred: A close first half. Great to get a win and to move into the next round. Still crying out for a striker who can add zest to our attack. Elgin gave us a good game, let's hope this is the start of a winning streak.

Eilidh: A slow start which is natural considering the run of form but once Shayden Morris scored we looked much better and like the Aberdeen of the start of the season albeit against a League Two side. If not for the Elgin goal keeper, it could've been five or six. Great to see Pape Gueye back and glimpses of the Duk of old. Hopefully the result needed to push on now.

Allan: Banana skin avoided. A solid back four with Alexander Jensen looking a steal of a signing. Welcome back big Pape and we ended the match with four strikers going for goal, and only bad luck and a good keeper kept the score down. Duk will kick on from here as he knows he's in the shop window. Sivert Nilsen is a top player and a good anchor but needs a rest.

Chris: We made it tough for ourselves, credit to Elgin. Morris gave us a good lead, Duk had a tough first half and Peter Ambrose looked lost. The substitutes made a real difference, Gaye looked good but rusty, 10 men Elgin helped but also we almost conceded too, Duk's second half was much better. Job done but a long way to go especially up front.

Chris: I believe Jimmy Thelin knows what he's doing, perhaps not the league. However if he won't go to his youth, he needs goals from somewhere. He has the fans and management but he needs to find goals. His signings look the part so find goals, bump Jack MacKenzie and Jamie McGrath, work with those who want a future not those whose head is not in the game. We are behind you!

Aberdeen fans and their players will have breathed a sigh of relief as they eased aside Elgin City to end their 12-game run without a win and reach the Scottish Cup fifth round.

Manager Jimmy Thelin admits the League 2 hosts gave them an early fright but says he saw some good things from his side while stressing there was still work to be done - both with his current players and in the transfer market.

Give us your thoughts whether or not you were at Borough Briggs or saw the game elsewhere.

Image source, SNS

Jimmy Thelin praised battling hosts Elgin City as he expressed relief that his Aberdeen side had been able to celebrate a victory with their fans after 12 games without one.

"We have been through a difficult time," the manager told BBC Scotland after the 3-0 win that takes the Dons through to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup. "With the crowd we had today, it was important everyone knew the importance of the game to us."

The Dons survived some early chances created by Allan Hale's hosts before Shayden Morris' 21st-minute opener and a second-half Duk double.

"Allan Hale and Elgin had a lot of energy and had a good performance in the first half and pushed us a lot," he said. "It was a difficult game and all credit to them - they didn't give up.

"The first half was not strong and they were good. They were almost through our back line two or three times and we can't give those kind of chances in this type of game.

"In the end, I saw some good things from our team also and it is a long time since we have won a game and it is good to get that feeling with the fans."

Thelin has been vocal about his desire to add a new striker during January but said "at least we are creating chances".

He added that he has a "strong belief" in the players he does have but stressed that "we still have good work to do" and he was pleased to get "some minutes into the legs" on his new signings.

Image source, SNS

Jimmy Thelin insists Aberdeen are giving Elgin City full respect in a competition that can "create dreams".

The Dons begin their Scottish Cup campaign on Saturday by seeking a first win in 13 games when they travel to the fourth-tier side.

Thelin is eagerly anticipating his first taste of the tournament, saying: "For me the cup here and in Sweden is so amazing because you can play these games against teams from different levels and that is the core of football.

"You can create dreams, the passion, that is why the cup is an amazing thing.

"You have to respect the opponent and you have to prepare yourself. Everybody who follows the cups in every corner of the world, things can happen so we have to be ready.

"When you are so close to the fans and you can hear everything that is also a nice spirit and feeling. I am looking forward to the game.

"Everybody always has something to lose, everyone wants to get through. I understand the situation that we are the big team.

"I have been on the other side in cups also and they are going to be ready but of course we're also going to be ready.

"They have done well. We have seen the games now and gone through them and we have a good report about them.

"For me if it's Elgin, Rangers or Hearts, the focus right now is to fix the things we can take care of."

Image source, SNS

Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Aberdeen's fourth-round Scottish Cup tie against Elgin City this weekend.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• Striker Pape Habib Gueye - who remains the Dons' top scorer this season - is in the squad and available for his first appearance since September, with Thelin saying: "He's showing on the training pitch that he's hungry to play."

• Thelin says it's "super important" his side - on a club-record equalling sequence of 12 games without a win - avoid an upset at League Two Elgin and have a good cup run as he strives to "raise standards and levels".

• The Swede insists his players can't "can't sit down and cry" amid their woeful run of form "because it's not going to help".

• On the Scottish Cup, Thelin says: "For me the cup here and in Sweden is so amazing because you can play these games against teams from different levels and that is the core of football. You can create dreams, the passion, that is why the cup is an amazing thing."

• On the recent performances of Graame Shinnie and Sivert Heltne Nilsen, Thelin says: "I think every player is trying their best. They have taken big responsibility, they play out of position, they never complain about the amounts of games, they're always available. They have taken big responsibility and a lot of pressure on them, so I'm really happy with them."

• He's expecting a challenging fixture against Elgin and says: "For me, even if it's Elgin or Rangers or Hearts, the focus for us right now is to fix the things we can take care of, how we behave as a team, the energy we play with, how we cooperate on the pitch. These things have to be one or two steps higher to get the results."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

The luck, or bad luck, of the fourth-round draw means not too many lower-league sides have home ties that immediately suggest a Scottish Cup shock could be on the cards, but Elgin City against Aberdeen on Saturday is one of them.

Last season's beaten semi-finalists travel to Elgin in crisis mode after 12 games without a win and with their stunning unbeaten start to the season under new manager Jimmy Thelin long forgotten amid a drop from second to fourth in the Premiership.

The sides have only met twice before, both in the cup, with Aberdeen easing to a 6-1 win in Elgin in 1938 and 5-0 at home in 1971 - both while City were still in the Highland League.

However, the Dons' worst-ever cup exit, to sixth-tier Darvel two years ago, is still fresh in the memory and the side sitting third in League 2 will have learned from their 5-0 League Cup thrashing in the opening game of the season against top-flight Hibs.

Allan Hale's side have only lost once at home in 12 games since.

Read Scottish Cup preview in full.

Queens Park Rangers are considering a move for 17-year-old Aberdeen centre-half Timothy Akindileni. (Press & Journal), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Robbie Boyle
BBC Scotland

Image source, SNS

Elgin City manager Allan Hale feels his side could take advantage of Aberdeen's poor run of form when they meet in the Scottish Cup on Saturday.

The Dons equalled a club record of 12 league matches without a win when they lost at Rangers on Wednesday.

Elgin, meanwhile, are currently third in Scotland's fourth tier and are expected to have a sell-out crowd backing them, with more than 4,000 tickets snapped up for the tie.

On Aberdeen's form, Hale told BBC Scotland: "I think it is something you're aware of and the implications there might be within their own performance.

"But there's an element of realism, we're a part-time team, we only get together three hours a week to train and Aberdeen are full-time and train every day.

"I always say the reason people like the game of football is because they love the underdog to succeed and this sport allows them the opportunity to come out on top.

"You've got to dream, you've got to have that positive mindset."

We asked for your views after Aberdeen's winless run reached 12 games with a 3-0 defeat at Ibrox.

Here's what some of you said:

Alan: I may be in a minority here but this is all part of the process of hopefully building a team capable of taking the club on to the next level. We have players to move on either because they won't sign new contracts or are not part of the manager's plans. There is no a short-term fix, we have four new players in this window with more to come.

John: Honestly the amount of goals we have lost trying to pass our way out from the back is getting beyond a joke. To use this tactic successfully you must have defenders who are also skilled passers of the ball and the pathetic shambles against Rangers proves my point perfectly. The manager must take his share of the blame for this and he must cease this now.

Steven: Clearly a bitterly disappointing period of results. However, the majority of fans are fully behind Jimmy Thelin. The early-season form masked deficiencies which were always going to be required to be rectified medium to long term. The club is backing Thelin, which is absolutely the correct action, we have to be patient. Form and results will change.

Eric: Apart from the two late goals, the performance was better, but we are short of a real leader on the pitch. I think the defence and midfield problems are improving, but there is nothing up front. Those players not willing to sign long-term deals should be dropped and shipped out as they are affecting team morale. Jimmy needs to be far more brutal.

Graham: Not sure you can justify playing the same XI who failed against a poor Hearts side at Ibrox. Sivert Nilsen is never a centre-back. We put a very poor Rangers defence under no pressure. When in the final third our players are treating the ball like a live grenade. Some players need rested.

Philip: Most fans seem to be giving Jimmy time but this is a shocking run of results, even when we were winning at the start of the season we were not playing great football. Elgin in the Cup, whilst important, it's the league form that needs addressed. If things continue I'd get Tony Docherty from Dundee in as soon as possible, he's doing so well there.

Image source, SNS

• Hamza Igamane has contributed to goals in his last four games in the Premiership (5 goals, 1 assist).

• Aberdeen have failed to win in their last 12 games in the Premiership, their equal longest winless streak in the competition.

• Rangers attempted 12 shots on target in this match, higher than their season average of 6.4 in the Premiership.

• Aberdeen have conceded 10 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Ross County (15) and Hibernian (14) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers have kept a clean sheet in 12 of their 23 games, only Celtic (17) have done this more often in the Premiership this season.

• Aberdeen have failed to score in their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer run of games without scoring a goal in the competition was a run of six games from 27 January 2021 to 17 February 2021.

Sheffield Wednesday are interested in 24-year-old Aberdeen left-back Jack MacKenzie, who is out of contract in the summer. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibernian and Rangers are eyeing moves for Luton Town midfielder Allan Campbell, with the 26-year-old interested in a return to his homeland after being sent on loan to Charlton Athletic. (Football Insider), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.