INVINCIBLES LOSS STILL A BURNING ISSUE FOR ASH
IT was the day when Celtic’s Treble winners went down in history as The Invincibles. For a rueful Ash Taylor, however, the 2017 Scottish Cup final should have seen Aberdeen’s players become The Immortals.
In a strong performance at Hampden, Derek McInnes’ Dons were leading through an early first-half goal by Jonny Hayes before Stuart Armstrong equalised 120 seconds later.
But when Hayes raced clear after the break and had the chance to square to Kenny McLean, the Irishman put the ball just behind the midfielder and a glorious chance was lost.
Tom Rogic’s stoppage-time winner eventually sealed a Treble for Brendan Rodgers’ side without losing a single match in all three competitions. Aberdeen’s missed opportunity to enter club folklore by
I have good semi-final memories but finals? Not so much
bringing the Scottish Cup home to Pittodrie for the first time since 1990 still stings Taylor.
His Dons side also lost the 2017 League Cup final 3-0 to Celtic and finished runners-up to the Parkhead club in the Premiership that season.
Now starring for Kilmarnock, the defender hopes the fact Aberdeen went toe-to-toe with Rodgers’ all-conquering team means the Rugby Park side — managed by McInnes — can take heart from 2017 ahead of Saturday’s Viaplay Cup semi-final against a similarly formidable Celtic.
‘I have got some really good semi-final memories, but finals not so much,’ said Taylor.
‘It’s just unfortunate we came up against Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side at the time. If we hadn’t, I think we would have won a trophy or two at Aberdeen.
‘The 2017 Scottish Cup final is the one that always burns. I always speak about that game and the moment with Hayes and McLean.
‘If we score that chance we probably would have gone on to win the cup. But then Rogic appeared last minute and did what he does and scored the winner.
‘I can see why people are comparing the current Celtic team and the 2017 team but I see a lot of differences. They are both good teams in very different ways. We just need to try and nullify their threats as much as we can.
‘Can we go toe-to-toe with Celtic again? It’s a semi-final, it’s a cup game and anything can happen in these matches.
‘You just need to stick to the plan perfectly and hopefully land a punch or two.’
Kilmarnock warmed up for their first League Cup semi-final since winning the trophy in 2012 by losing 2-0 in the Premiership to Celtic in a dress rehearsal on Saturday.
Afterwards, McInnes declared Ange Postecoglou side to be possibly the finest he has faced in his 15-year managerial career.
But Taylor believes Killie can take heart from keeping Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi — the top flight’s joint-top scorer — quiet for the majority of the match.
With Jota making the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time before Taylor deflected a Reo Hatate cross into his own net, there is no room for switching off against a team crammed full of attacking threats.
‘The concentration levels have to be right up there all game,’ said Taylor. ‘Your communication has to be on point. You have to talk to your team-mates and make sure you’re always filling the gaps. ‘Kyogo’s movement is so sharp. He often starts behind you, tries to draw you then darts into space. It is like playing cat and mouse, you have to be switched on. ‘It (keeping him quiet) can be done and we showed that at the weekend. ‘But if you switch off for a splitsecond then they will punish you. Hopefully, we can nullify that a bit more this weekend and keep our concentration levels even higher.’ Taylor is determined to use his own big-game knowledge to pass on to those making their first Hampden appearance. After lifting a trophy as Killie won promotion back to the Premiership last May, he is desperate to claim his first major silverware.
It would also help ease the hurt of those 2017 final defeats against Celtic.
‘I think it can help if you have been in this situation before,’ he said. ‘The more you go to Hampden, the more comfortable you become. Celtic are there so often they treat it as home.
‘To be in that kind of environment before helps you not be fazed by the big occasion. I hope I can pass on my experience and know-how of the big occasion.
‘It would be lovely to win a major trophy. We won the Championship last year and I want more of that. I was so close during my time at Aberdeen, so it would be really nice to get over the line.
‘I have got a lot of good memories of semi-finals at Hampden, so hopefully I can replicate that this weekend.’