How can Aberdeen stop Celtic and win Scottish Cup?
Scottish Cup final: Aberdeen v CelticVenue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Saturday, 24 May Time: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC One Scotland, listen on BBC Radio Scotland, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app
Nineteen goals against, four straight defeats, no victories in the fixture since 2018.Aberdeen's recent record against Celtic is not encouraging for Dons fans heading to Hampden for Saturday's Scottish Cup final, some of them having travelled far.Of course, there's context. Two of those goals against came in a 2-2 draw between the sides at Celtic Park and it's not as if many Scottish sides can boast a strong record against the Scottish Premiership champions.Rangers beat Celtic twice this season, but that was after no wins in derbies at all in the previous campaign while Hibernian and St Johnstone were the only other domestic teams to pick up three points against Brendan Rodgers' side this term.So, how can Jimmy Thelin's side defy the odds and win their first trophy of any kind since 2014 and their first Scottish Cup since 1990?
'Season really hinges on cup final'
"The season really hinges on what happens next week in the Scottish Cup final," said Sportscene pundit and former Scotland player Michael Stewart when reviewing Aberdeen's final league game of the season at Dundee United and their campaign in general.A few days prior, former Pittodrie and Celtic Park defender Charlie Mulgrew, commenting after Aberdeen's 5-1 home loss to Celtic, said: "Their form from November is bottom of the league form. They need to produce a performance at least to end the season on some sort of a high."If they don't do that, it's looking like not a good season for Aberdeen all of a sudden."Sunday's 2-1 loss was a fourth defeat in a row for Thelin's men, with their last win of any kind coming in their 2-1 Scottish Cup semi-final victory in extra time over Hearts.Their last win over 90 minutes came on 26 April, 1-0 at home to Hibs.Again, not great reading. But perhaps that win holds the key to how Aberdeen can spring a surprise.Hibs finished third in the Premiership and were the league's most improved side after struggling at the foot of the table as recently as November.Aberdeen restricted their high-flying opponents, closed down space and did not allow danger men like Martin Boyle to have much of an influence. Indeed, there were no shots on target from the visitors and the Dons bested David Gray's side in possession and shots overall, with Kevin Nisbet's delicious volley settling the affair.It was that restricting of the opponent that seemed to give Thelin's side the confidence and platform to get the win they desperately craved as they tried to beat Hibs to third.Undoubtedly, a restriction approach will need to be put on Celtic if Aberdeen are to stand any chance.Of Aberdeen's past four losses to Celtic, they have lost three of them by a margin of four goals or more and have been three behind by half-time in two of them.
Time for a change of system?
Few Premiership sides have excelled defensively this season and Aberdeen are not one of them. Only the league's top three and Hearts finished the campaign with a positive goal difference.What must be a frustration for those Dons fans is that after 10 league games, Aberdeen were 20 goals for and nine against in the league. By the end of game 38, it was 48 for and 61 against.Since Aberdeen last kept a clean sheet, they have lost 12 goals, an average of three per game. Simply speaking, they need to find a way to stop the rot.Here, Hibs and Rangers may offer guidance. Hibs went with a back three in their February 2-1 win over Celtic at Easter Road, scoring twice in the first half.It was a similar story the following month as Rangers led by two at the break at Celtic Park and went on to win 3-2.Hibs were very much on the front foot against Celtic while Rangers went for quite a counter-attacking approach.It may seem unlikely Aberdeen will break from their tried and tested back four for such an important game but perhaps it's fair to say their tried and tested system is not working and it's time to be bold.Whatever the system, they must try and stay in the game for as long as possible. Recently, at Ibrox, Aberdeen gave as good as they got for 55 minutes but then lost four goals. Back on Boxing Day, they shipped the same amount of goals away at Kilmarnock, with three coming in the second period.Should Aberdeen fall behind on Saturday, it's unlikely Celtic will take the foot off the gas.
What the manager says
It should not be forgotten that Thelin and Aberdeen have had some success against Celtic this season.That 2-2 draw in October was quite a remarkable result. The Dons trailed 2-0 at the break and Thelin took action with two substitutions.One of his replacements, Ester Sokler, got Aberdeen back into the game and captain Graeme Shinnie - played in his more familiar midfield role instead of his current left-back berth - struck a deflected equaliser. Aberdeen then showed steel and some last-ditch defending to secure a point.Saturday's match will be the first final of Thelin's managerial career and he said on Wednesday: "We have a clear plan of what we're going to do."I think the Scottish Cup has a really big history, it's a big thing, and you can feel it already around the club and around the country. We are really excited for this moment, everyone."Win on Saturday and the moment will not only cover the multitude of Aberdeen's recent struggles but give Thelin and his players belief that the three-year project he has referred to throughout his debut season is on track.
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