It’s Scottish Cup quarter-final weekend and the draw has presented what bookies have described as “The most predictable rounds ever” but at Pittodrie, one would argue, we see the biggest chance of an upset. Partick Thistle travel north off the back of a fourth consecutive win and clean sheet in a 1-0 win away to Dundee. Their form has been excellent as of late and has seen them climb to sixth in the Ladbrokes Premiership. On the other hand, Aberdeen were beaten by the then-bottom club Hamilton at New Douglas Park. No matter of form, both teams will be highly motivated as a semi-final trip to Hampden is at stake so now let’s look at the games major turning points.
INJURY WOES FOR THE DONS
At the aforementioned game against Hamilton, the Reds suffered a couple of injury blows to add to their pre-existing problems. Centre-half Mark Reynolds, winger Jonny Hayes and central-midfielder Ryan Jack are all set to miss Sunday’s game. The wideman, Hayes, is a big part of Aberdeen’s attacking threat and has provided six goals this season so he will be a big miss for Derek McIness if he can’t make it back as is expected. Ryan Jack and Mark Reynolds are big misses as they offer solidarity and organisation to the Dons midfield and defence respectively. I would say that Thistle are probably in as good a position as ever to get something from the game at Pittodrie m, whether that is a replay or possibly a win.
AN INEVITABLE NIL
In recent weeks, Partick Thistle have really improved at the back. The addition of Niall Keown to the Jags backline has been a welcome one and they have now kept eight clean sheets in their last ten games. That being said their attack has been up and down. Kris Doolan has been playing well of late and his hard work earned them a the winner against Dundee in midweek but it’s still not clear whether this form will hold up. Even with their good scoring form recently, the Jags haven’t conceded and scored in the same competitive game since December the 23rd so I wouldn’t put my money on both teams to score.
ARCHIE’S PITTODRIE PROBLEMS
Since the Jags’ return to the top flight of Scottish football they have only beaten Aberdeen once, at Firhill back in 2014, and at Pittodrie they have picked up just two points from a possible 18. Pittodrie hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Archibald’s men but this season they’ve been decent on the road, beating St. Johnstone, Ross County and Dundee twice away from home and also drawing with Hearts at Tynecastle before their recent collapse. It would be a perfect time for their first Pittodrie triumph of recent times with Hampden in their sights.
ABERDEEN AIMING FOR CUP TRIUMPH
With the league table being dominated by a strong Celtic side who are strolling to yet another Scortish Premiership title, many Aberdeen fans will realise that a cup win is probably the best they can achieve alongside a second place finish. They came close to a cup victory in November after making the final of the Betfred League Cup but in that final, they were handily beaten by Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops. The prospect of a return to Hampden would be an attractive one for the Dons faithful and a win against Thistle would provide that. With Celtic, Rangers and Hibs all still in the competion and with them all having home games in the quarters, a potential semi-final certainly wouldn’t be easy if they should overcome Partick Thistle.
Views from the JHS 