Scottish Cup: Reaction as Darvel beat Aberdeen in famous upset

Summary

Kirkpatrick collects cross and beats Aberdeen keeper Lewis with deflected strike for shock opener
Darvel keeper Chris Truesdale brilliantly saves from Duncan, half-time substitute Miovski and Duk to keep lead intact
Darvel make last 16 for first time and will face Falkirk at home

Live Reporting

Colin Moffat

Can Kennedy keep team-talk brief?published at 19:19 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2023
Darvel v Aberdeen (19:45)
Darvel manager Mick Kennedy is a successful businessman, owner of a well known restaurant franchise chain.
"It's been a hectic day in terms of work," he told BBC Radio Scotland at lunchtime.
"It will be the same with some of the players, getting on with their jobs. A very different preparation from Aberdeen.
"The scale of support from the whole community has been massive and that should drive us forward."
Kennedy is allowing the BBC cameras into the dressing room for his team talk and is not at all fazed by the prospect.
"I'm pretty comfortable at speaking, I just don't know if they'll have enough time to record it all," he joked. "I do go on a bit."
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Darvel manager Mick Kennedy
Cup exit led to Goodwin appointmentpublished at 19:15 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2023
Darvel v Aberdeen (19:45)
Last season, Aberdeen beat Edinburgh City at this stage then fell away to Motherwell at the next hurdle.
That defeat in February 2022 led to the sacking of Stephen Glass, with Jim Goodwin taking over a few days later.
Darvel fans making a din for Donspublished at 19:11 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2023
Darvel v Aberdeen (19:45)
Andrew Southwick
BBC Scotland at Recreation Park
There's still 35 minutes to kick off, the Aberdeen players aren't even out for their warm ups yet, but they'll be walking out into an already hostile atmosphere.
The drums and chants from the Darvel fans has been incessant ever since the gates were opened.
Myslovic and Duncan start for Aberdeenpublished at 19:09 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2023
Darvel v Aberdeen (19:45)
Aberdeen captain Anthony Stewart returns from suspension but goalkeeper Kelle Roos is still out, so Joe Lewis continues between the sticks and coach Craig Samson, a local lad, is on the bench.
Teenager Ryan Duncan is preferred to top scorer Bojan Miovski, while Jonny Hayes drops out and Graeme Shinnie is replaced by Patrik Myslovic, who makes his first start.
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Hayden Coulson arrives at Recreation Park
Cup fever grips Darvelpublished at 19:05 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2023
Darvel v Aberdeen (19:45)
Darvel, population 4,000, is nine miles due east of Kilmarnock, which makes it a long way from Aberdeen.
The addition of temporary structures at Recreation Park has bumped tonight's capacity up to 3,500, with around half of the town at the game!
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNS
LINE-UPS at Recreation Parkpublished at 19:03 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2023
Darvel v Aberdeen (19:45)
Darvel: Chris Truesdale, Meechan, Eadie, Meggett, McGowan, Robertson, McShane, Craig Truesdale, Caldwell, McKenzie, Kirkpatrick.
Substitutes: Lyle, Allan, Syme, Miller, Stirling, Reilly, Moore, Ferguson, Avci, Morrison.
Aberdeen: Lewis, McCrorie, Scales, Stewart, Kennedy, Ramadani, Myslovic, Coulson, Clarkson, Duk, Duncan.
Substitutes: Samson, Shinnie, Barron, Miovski, Watkins, Besuijen, Hayes, Richardson, Roberts.
Darvel have Dons in their sightspublished at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2023
Darvel v Aberdeen (19:45)
Aberdeen visit the small Ayrshire town of Darvel this evening looking to book a place in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.
It's a tight ground and the locals will be out in force, rooting for an almighty upset in front of the BBC Scotland cameras.
The Dons are on an iffy run of form right now and, if any of their players don't fancy this, it could be awkward.
The winner of this one has a home tie with Falkirk to look forward to.
Image source, SNS