United to sword

Derek Mcinnes believes Aberdeen are among a clutch of teams who will be disappointed if they do not lift the Scottish Cup this season, writes Alan Pattullo.

The Pittodrie side took care of Dundee United as expected yesterday to set up a home quarter-final tie against in-from Kilmarnock.

With Celtic’s league dominance likely to continue, the cup is Aberdeen’s last real hope of silverware this season. They reached the final last year only to lose out to a last-minute winner from Celtic’s Tom Rogic.

Mcinnes was delighted Aberdeen were rewarded with a home tie in the next round following their efforts yesterday on a difficult, bobbly surface.

Two goals from former Tannadice winger Gary Mackay-steven helped see off United, who can now concentrate on re-igniting their Championship title ambitions.

“I said before the competition started that there will be loads of teams who will feel this is their year, especially now with only eight teams left,” said Mcinnes afterwards. “But there are only a few clubs – and I include ourselves in that – who will be disappointed if they don’t win it.

“I feel we are a team that can go and win it. We need to use the experience, good and bad, of Hampden and semifinals and finals.

“We visited Hampden four times last season and that is great in terms of familiarity. This draw is one that both teams, ourselves and Kilmarnock, will see as a great opportunity to get to the semifinal. It will be a tough game.

“Last season, we came up against a special Celtic team and there was no shame in coming second best to a very good side. It 3 Derek Mcinnes believes that his Aberdeen side can learn from last season’s four visits to Hampden. took until the 93rd minute to separate us and I liked the attitude of my team and our support that day. It looked as if we were getting used to those surroundings. I just want to get back there again and hopefully go one better and actually bring the trophy home.”

United have no such hopes, this season at least. They are left to focus on eating into the 14-point lead St Mirren have established over them at the top of the Championship.

United manager Csaba Laszlo took some comfort from the fact that United drew the second half 1-1 after falling 3-1 behind in the first-half. “Hopefully we come back to Aberdeen as a direct league opponent next season – that is our wish,” said Laszlo. “Of course doing well in the cup can lift the spirit. But the spirit is already there – you saw that from the second half.” He added: “We gave up two very easy goals and that maybe killed us. I was confident when we pulled it back to 2-1 that we could hold that scoreline until the break and let us reorganise. But we gave away a poor third goal and have to defend that better.”

MORTON

Ross 12, Iredale 49, Mchugh 80

DUMBARTON

3

0

Morton moved into the last eight of the Scottish Cup for the second time in three years with a 3-0 success over Championship rivals Dumbarton at Cappielow, with manager Jim Duffy determined that his players get credit for their success.

Duffy said: “Some people will look at the scoreline and think that it was a comfortable win but that is not fair on our players. They worked very hard against a good side who have some very experienced players and to take us through to the last eight is a great achievement.

“We scored the opening goal at a good time and the second one just after halftime would have deflated Dumbarton a bit. The third meant that we could enjoy the closing few minutes.

“We will now come up against one of the big guns and will look to enjoy that.”

The Greenock side had gone into the tie on the back of a three-game winning run and they got their pursuit of a fourth off to a great start on 12 minutes. Winger Frank Ross cut in from the left and after sticking the ball through debutant Aidan Wilson’s legs the on-loan Aberdeen wideman exchanged passes with Gary Oliver before lofting the ball over Scott Gallacher to open the scoring.

Andy Murdoch, Scott Tiffoney and Ross came close to grabbing a second goal before the break, but it was defender Jack Iredale that doubled Morton’s lead four minutes after the restart.

The Australian left-back burst into the Sons’ box and was perfectly placed to slam a shot into the net after Oliver had been denied.

The win was wrapped up ten minutes from time when Bob Mchugh volleyed home a cross from Ross. Dumbarton manager Stephen Aitken felt his side had failed to make a game of it, saying: “We looked a bit flat and not having a game last weekend seemed to make us rusty. We never threatened enough and the goals we gave away were preventable. Jim is an excellent manager and I wish him well in the next round.”