5th Mar 2017 Aberdeen 1 Partick Thistle 0 (Scottish Cup Quarter Final)

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matches:2016-17: ← 39game 4041 →

	Derek McInnes	Alan Archibald	39y, 7m, 20d

		no changes
		no changes

Graeme Shinnie (0-1, 42 mins)
Niall McGinn (0-1, 42 mins)
		Chris Erskine; Ryan Edwards; Danny Devine; Abdul Osman
		Danny Devine (@ 0-1, 90+3 mins)
Peter Pawlett (Anthony O'Connor, 75 mins); Adam Rooney (Miles Storey, 80 mins); Niall McGinn (Ryan Christie, 88 mins)		Adam Barton (Steven Lawless, 54 mins); Chris Erskine (Ade Azeez, 60 mins); Kris Doolan (Kevin Nisbet, 79 mins)

	Joe Lewis	Tomáš Černý	31y, 10m, 23d
	Shay Logan	Christie Elliott	25y, 9m, 7d
	Graeme Shinnie	Callum Booth	25y, 9m, 3d
	Andrew Considine	Liam Lindsay	21y, 4m, 21d
	Ash Taylor	Danny Devine	24y, 5m, 26d
	Kenny McLean	Niall Keown	21y, 11m, 0d
	Adam Rooney	Abdul Osman	30y, 0m, 6d
	Niall McGinn	Adam Barton	26y, 1m, 26d
	Jonny Hayes	Kris Doolan	30y, 2m, 22d
	Peter Pawlett	Ryan Edwards	23y, 3m, 16d
	Jayden Stockley	Chris Erskine	30y, 0m, 25d

			26y, 5m, 15d

	Neil Alexander	Mark Ridgers	26y, 6m, 24d
	Ryan Christie	Mustapha Dumbuya	29y, 6m, 26d
	Anthony O'Connor	David Amoo	25y, 10m, 20d
	Scott Wright	Steven Lawless	25y, 10m, 21d
	Frank Ross	Ade Azeez	23y, 1m, 25d
	Connor McLennan	Kevin Nisbet	19y, 11m, 25d
	future Jag Miles Storey	Andy McCarthy	18y, 4m, 13d

notes

Thistle generally in playing order, opposition in squad number order.

TTA report

Thistle made it hard for Aberdeen but a curling shot from 20 yards (42) was enough. Stout defending was all they had to offer and they never showed up front. Osman headed over a free-kick at the back post (91) but a draw would have been a steal. It was increasingly towsy and Devine got his 2nd yellow (93).

Media report

05-Mar-2017, bbc.com

Graeme Shinnie grabbed the only goal as Aberdeen beat Partick Thistle to reach the Scottish Cup semi-finals. The home side were the better team throughout but again found the killer touch hard to find. Aberdeen passed up a host of first-half chances but Shinnie curled home the crucial winner just before half time. Partick threatened late on through Abdul Osman's header and had defender Danny Devine sent off when he picked up a second yellow card. In truth, however, Aberdeen reached the last four with more to spare than the score-line suggests. With Celtic having beaten St Mirren 4-1 earlier on Sunday, the Dons joined them, Rangers and Hibernian in the semi-final draw.

There was a real sense of anticipation ahead of this match, a feeling that the best had been saved for last on Scottish Cup weekend. And with good reason. Partick came into the game on the back of four straight wins, having not conceded a goal in more than six hours, while Aberdeen had lost just once at home all season. The first half, however, failed to live up to pre-match expectations and for the home fans there was a worrying sense of familiarity. Having dominated Hamilton but lost 1-0 on Tuesday night, the Dons enjoyed the bulk of possession and chances against Partick but for the first 40-odd minutes they were once again firing blanks. Adam Rooney and Peter Pawlett tried their luck with no joy before Niall McGinn drew a top stop from Accies keeper Tomas Cerny with a thunderous half-volley from outside the box. When the unmarked Rooney nodded over from seven yards concern must have been growing among the home support. With half-time approaching, however, Shinnie allayed any fears when he curled an excellent effort into the bottom corner from 20 yards after being picked out by McGinn.

Thistle had not conceded a goal during their four-match winning run so falling behind posed a whole new problem for Alan Archibald's troops. The situation did not suit them as they struggled to make an impression in the final third, while Aberdeen continued to create chances in the second half. Andy Considine forced another great save from Cerny before Rooney hit the post with a header, and all along Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis enjoyed a relaxing Sunday. Lewis eventually saw some action late on, expertly plucking one dangerous cross out of the air before Osman nodded Thistle's best, and only real chance, over the bar. One goal took Aberdeen to Hampden but there was more between the teams than that, an indicator of the quality within this current Aberdeen outfit. Goals may not be coming easy for them just now but some of their build-up play is excellent, with McGinn hitting form at a key moment in the season. With players such as Shinnie, Kenny McLean, Jonny Hayes and Rooney in their ranks, Derek McInnes' side has the creativity and firepower to trouble most teams and will be confident going to Hampden in the last four.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald (speaking to the BBC):

I thought we started brightly enough but we fell out of the game and lost a lot of individual battles. I started the same side but they looked a bit leggy and maybe Aberdeen's extra day of rest made the difference. We had a late rally but we didn't do enough. We're not too despondent because we were beaten by a top side.

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes (speaking to the BBC):

It's all about getting through in the cup and I thought we were the better team throughout. We missed some good opportunities. We had to fight for everything we got against this Thistle team. They're a good side. We knew chances would be at a premium but I thought we created enough chances to score more than one goal. Somebody's got to win (the cup). We feel on our day we can beat any team in the country.

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