Normally, equality in the quarter -final of the Scottish Cup at home against the opposition of the lower league would represent the ideal scenario for a club like Aberdeen.
Add the fact that today’s opposition has not appeared in the last four since 1928, and progression should be considered a formality. This is theory anyway.
Try to tell any person associated with Queen’s Park.
Four weeks have passed since the championship team succeeded one of the biggest shocks in Scottish football ever by pouring the rangers of the competition on their own lawn.
Even the manager Callum Davidson looked a little lost for the words overnight. What is strange, since it was he who led St Johnstone to a barely credible double in domestic cup in 2021.
Although it is too much a section – even for Davidson – to take the spiders all the time this time, there are many reasons to believe that he can at least add another scalp to his collection this weekend and keep the dream of the cup in life a little longer.
Queen’s Park amazed the Rangers in Ibrox during the previous round to set up Aberdeen Tie
The spiders manager Callum Davidson won the Scottish Cup with St Johnstone in 2021
The boss of Aberdeen Jimmy Thelin is fully aware of the threat posed by today’s visitors
Admittedly, donations seem to have recovered from a lamentable race that threatened to cancel all the right work done in the first months of the campaign.
But this was far from the type of form that previously triggered them as a contenders in the title – and this should give visitors today a cause of optimism.
Defensively, Jimmy Thelin’s men continue to appear in disorder. This is a problem that tormented them all the season, and the man that the manager has not yet resolved.
The constant DIY with pairs of the back-center has not helped, and the absence of Dimitar Mitov in order, but the problems are much deeper than that.
Responsibility does not only fall at the feet of those on the back line. The team as a whole was far too easy to play, which makes clean leaves difficult to find.
Queen’s singer, Zak Rudden, will undoubtedly savor the prospect of riding a few feathers this afternoon.
The slow departures were also a bit of a recurring theme for today’s hosts, as demonstrated once again during the 2-2 draw last weekend against Dundee United.
Of course, the team deserves the merit of having retaliated from 2-0 to second half to obtain a well-deserved point against one of their main rivals for a European place, but it is a position in which they found themselves much too often.
The donations had to retaliate from 2-0 to half-time against Dundee United last weekend
For the most part, they were able to turn away from trouble. Thelin was not shy to make changes at halftime in an effort to turn the trend, but he must surely be tired of having to turn to his bench when his beginners do not make the company?
Queen’s Park turned out to be too hard for the Rangers to crack after moving forward in Ibrox. They may not be easy to look at, but they are effective.
No one would suggest that they have the same quality as the higher level sides, even less one with the power of expenditure of Aberdeen.
But in terms of heart, desire and discipline, they correspond to anyone.
Simply, Aberdeen can afford to be sucked in a war of attrition, as was the case last August when the teams met in the first sports of the last 16.
The winner of Topi Keskinen’s downtime was sufficient to see the donations above the line on this occasion. They certainly did a hard job.
At least this time, they can call on the talents of Kevin Nisbet. Needless to say, the ex-Hibernian has not had the best time since his return to the north of the border in summer.
Despite his difficulties in nailing a regular starting place in Millwall, his loan signature was considered a major coup for Aberdeen.
However, for a large part of this season, he looked at kilometers, which sparked speculation that he was sent back to the English championship in January.
Aberdeen striker Kevin Nisbet has rediscovered his shooting boots in recent weeks
It has never materialized and, for the moment, it works well for both parties.
His double against United brought his recent goals to four games in six, with a few assists to make a good measure. Also.
We even speak that the 27 -year -old is returning back to Steve Clarke’s thought for the next double head of the Nations in the League of Scotland. Stable on.
There is no doubt, however, that he looks like a transformed player. It’s funny what a little confidence can do.
If Aberdeen must have a chance to lift the Scottish Cup for the first time in more than three decades, his contribution will be the key.
Any thought of celebration at the end of May must be put aside for the moment. Queen’s Park first, Hampden Park later.