Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin and his players passed their first test with flying colours after bouncing back from their day to forget at Hampden in emphatic style on Saturday. There was genuine curiosity in Scottish football at just how much impact the in the semi-final would have at Pittodrie. The answer was brief – very little.
Saturday’s was not plain sailing. The Dons, by their manager’s own admission, were too open and disjointed in the first half against Tony Docherty’s Dark Blues. Had it not been for Dimitar Mitov’s penalty save just before the break then perhaps a very different take would be required.
For sure the manager’s half-time team talk would have been very different. But Mitov’s concentration and spot-kick heroics speaks to a bigger picture at Pittodrie. This Aberdeen team is made of strong stuff.
Dundee could not keep up with the Dons’ second half onslaught It was a pivotal save from the Bulgarian international not just because it kept the game goalless, but it also afforded the Dons the chance to regroup and refocus for the second half. What followed was a blistering second half display which overwhelmed Dundee. As has been the case so often the team effort won out in a manner which has become the norm this season.
The goal burden was shared with four different scorers and the manager’s substitutes came on and played leading roles. It feels as it happens on a weekly basis at this point and the fact Pittodrie has been sold-out for the last.