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The National
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
What Jimmy Thelin can learn from Aberdeen's 'worst team ever'
'Sometimes when you're at a match you cover your eyes because the sun's getting in them,' said Tosh yesterday as he looked ahead to the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final against Celtic at Hampden on Saturday. 'I think a lot of people are going to be covering their eyes this weekend because they're so scared of how it is going to go and what they are going to see. There have been some devastating, negative results recently. I know that people are concerned.' However, the former St Johnstone, Raith Rovers, Livingston, Falkirk, Gretna and Queen of the South midfielder, who spent an eventful and enjoyable if ultimately unsuccessful season-and-a-half playing for his boyhood heroes at Pittodrie back in the 2000s, doesn't share his fellow supporters' pessimism. He will set off for Glasgow from his home town Kirkcaldy with his son Jordan on Saturday morning believing, not just hoping, that the underdogs are more than capable of pulling off a major upset and denying their opponents both victory and another domestic treble. Read more: Recent results against Brendan Rodgers' side do not, he appreciates, augur well for Jimmy Thelin's team. They have lost their last four encounters with their top flight rivals and have conceded no fewer than 17 goals in the process. Avoiding another humiliating mauling is the most that some of their fans are hoping for just now. Tosh, though, knows from personal experience that great things can be achieved with a positive attitude and the correct gameplan. 'I was a member of what was possibly the worst Aberdeen team ever to turn up at Parkhead back in 2004,' he said. 'We had five teenagers in the side. I was the most experienced outfield player and had to come off after 20 minutes with a calf injury. Celtic had gone 77 games unbeaten at home in all competitions. 'But we beat them 2-1 that day. Then the next time we went back to Parkhead the following season when Jimmy Calderwood was manager we beat them 3-2. Don't get me wrong, there were a helluva lot of other times when we went down there and got a doing. All I'm saying is it's possible.' (Image: SNS Group Alan Harvey) Tosh was also a key player in the Gretna and Queen of the South sides which gave Hearts and Rangers serious scares in memorable Scottish Cup finals in 2006 and 2008 – the former were only beaten in a penalty shootout while the latter lost 3-2 after an epic tussle. 'The FA Cup final in England on Saturday past proves that anything's possible in a one off game,' he said. 'You'd expect Manchester City to beat Crystal Palace quite comfortably, but they didn't. Exactly the same kind of result can happen in the Scottish Cup. 'Queen of the South ran a Rangers team that had played in a European final 10 days earlier close in 2008. Two years before that Gretna to Hearts lost on penalties. But if it hadn't been for Robbie Neilson denying Davie Graham with a last-gasp challenge a third tier team would have won. 'There's been many finals recently when the lesser teams have been given no chance and they've proven to be very close finals. As I say, anything can happen in a one off game.' So how can Aberdeen, who were thrashed 5-1 by a significantly understrength Celtic side in a Premiership game at Pittodrie last Wednesday night, overcome seemingly insurmountable odds and lift the Scottish Cup for the first time since way back in 1990 this weekend? Tosh, who works as a pundit for Red TV and has seen Aberdeen in action regularly this season, feels it is imperative that they go on the offensive in Mount Florida once referee Don Robertson has blown the whistle for the start of the match and give their huge travelling support reason to cheer. Read more: 'There's only one way Aberdeen are going to beat Celtic and it's not by keeping a clean sheet,' he said. 'I honestly think they are going to need to go out and try to score goals. If they try to sit back they will play into their hands because their opponents' attack is the best part of their team. I'd like to see them going out and having a right pop. 'I think most fans would prefer that they did that to sitting in to be honest, even if they lost 5-2. If you're asking people to spend £50 on a ticket of whatever it is, then they deserve for you to have a go. I know the players would prefer to do that as well. 'When I played, there was nothing worse than sitting in, defending in numbers and trying to hit a team on the break. The truth is you felt like you were giving them the ball back to have another go. 'I'm not saying Celtic are weak at the back, but I would say it's the weakest part of their team. I'm not being derogatory about their defenders, but I think their greatest strength is their flair and ability to score goals. Lets face it, they're going to score. So why not go out there and try to score two?' (Image: SNS Group Jeff Holmes) Tosh continued, 'In one game at Pittodrie a couple of seasons ago Celtic had 81 per cent possession. Callum McGregor scored a goal and they won 1-0. Sorry, but that's not football for me. So go down and try and cause an upset. If they do that they have got half a chance. They are quite capable of scoring. 'Topi Keskinen and Oday Dabbagh can do some damage in attack. Shayden Morris can be frustrating, but, on his day, he can give defenders a hard time. Leighton Clarkson does his best work in the latter third. Kevin Nisbet knows where the goals are. So they definitely have the players in that area. It will be interesting to see what Jimmy does on the day. 'But they proved earlier on in the season that they are capable. They were 2-0 down at half-time at Parkhead, came back to draw 2-2 and, to be honest, looked a far better team in the second half. Only a VAR decision cost them victory that day. That's how close they came at the home of the champions. 'They've got to go and show they're Aberdeen, show they're not a lesser team, show that they belong to be there, show that they are still a major force within Scottish football. They can't allow the Scottish Cup final to be a damp squib.'
Belfast Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Former Rangers winger signs for Crusaders: ‘He will give us real quality in wide areas'
The former Rangers Academy helped Arbroath win the Scottish League One title this season, after joining form Queen of the South in the January transfer window.
Press and Journal
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Paul Hartley's praise for Cove Rangers as they reach play-off final
Manager Paul Hartley hailed his Cove Rangers players for keeping their promotion hopes alive. Goals from club legends Mitch Megginson and Blair Yule earned the Aberdeen side a 2-1 win over Queen of the South at the Balmoral Stadium, which means they progress to the Championship play-off final. Cove – who had one season in the Championship in 2022-23 – will now face Airdrieonians over two legs for a place in Scotland's second tier next term. The first leg is at the Balmoral Stadium on Wednesday (8.10pm kick-off) with the return at the Excelsior Stadium on Saturday. Boss Hartley said: 'I'm delighted for the players, staff and everyone connected with the club. 'It's been a long season, but if you said at the start of the season we'd be in the play-off final with the chance to get to the Championship we'd have taken it. 'The players have been absolutely magnificent for me, it's a young group with a wee bit of experience. 'Credit to everybody, it's a great occasion for us, we'll go and attack the two games to give ourselves an opportunity against a very good team. 'There was a spell with 20 minutes to go when we knew they'd throw bodies at us, but we dealt with it. 'We could have killed the game off, especially in the second half with some really good counter-attacking moments.' Cove's victory was watched by a crowd of 1065 and Hartley is hoping they will be well-supported again in midweek, even though their meeting with Airdrie clashes with Aberdeen v Celtic at Pittodrie. He added: 'We had a good crowd, the crowds haven't been the best this season, but we gave them something to cheer about today. 'Hopefully we'll get another good crowd on Wednesday – there is another game in the city – but hopefully we get big numbers turning out. 'I can't thank the players enough, to a man they've been absolutely outstanding.' Cove made the dream start by taking the lead in the seventh minute. They enjoyed a spell of pressure around the Queen of the South box, which culminated in Arron Darge being tripped by Harry Cochrane's sliding challenge. Referee Calum Scott pointed to the penalty spot and Megginson fired into the top left corner. Neither goalkeeper was tested in the first period, however, it was Cove who looked the sharper in possession and they were clinical two minutes into the second period when they doubled their lead. Queens failed to deal with a cross from the right, Yule gathered the loose ball, side-stepped a challenge and his shot from 10 yards eventually found the net despite the best efforts of Matthew Douglas and Michael Hewitt to clear on the line. Shortly after Cove's Findlay Marshall curled into goalkeeper Ross Stewart's hands as they looked for the third goal to completely settle the issue. Having offered little going forward Queens did then start to create some chances. In the 53rd minute sub Benjamin Luissint prodded the ball into the net, but was flagged offside. Then midway through the second half sub Fraser Bryden broke clear on the right and squared for Jordan Allan, his attempt was blocked at close quarters by goalkeeper Nick Suman before Michael Doyle cleared. Cove should have netted a third goal on 73 minutes when sub Fraser Fyvie played Adam Emslie through on goal, but his shot was tipped over by Stewart. Four minutes later Queen of the South scored to set up a nervy finish as Kai Kennedy's sublime strike from 30 yards flashed into the left corner of the net. However, Cove saw the game out thanks to some determined defending. The closest Queens came to equalising and forcing extra-time was a net-bound Allan shot from 10 yards which Suman tipped away down to his right.
Scottish Sun
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Jim Delahunt's expert betting tips on Celtic v Hibs, Rangers v Aberdeen plus all the weekend football action & his acca
BOOKIE BASHER Jim Delahunt's expert betting tips on Celtic v Hibs, Rangers v Aberdeen plus all the weekend football action & his acca COVE took a big step towards the Championship play-off final with a goalless draw at Queen of the South midweek and Paul Hartley's 13/10 Rangers can complete the job in tomorrow's second leg. Queens head north having failed to make a breakthrough in Dumfries on Tuesday and Peter Murphy's side could be up against after a combination of near misses and good work from Cove keeper Nick Suman kept them at bay. 2 This pair could face off again on Saturday Credit: Kenny Ramsay 2 Rangers go head-to-head with Aberdee again on Sunday Credit: Willie Vass Cove finished second by 3 points from the Doonhamers in League One but Queen of the South were 13-2-3 at home over the season and Tuesday has to be an opportunity missed. Rangers actually recorded more wins (9) away from the Balmoral (7) during the season proper but they've produced goals in key matches to finish second behind7points winners Arbroath and I reckon they're a great price at decent odds against to win in 90 minutes and progress to the final. Airdrie look the most likely opponents after the Championship side beat League One 4th Stenhousemuir 3-1 away on Tuesday and tomorrow's second leg should be fairly straightforward for the 8/15 Diamonds whether they add to their 2 goals advantage or not. The match doesn't strike me as one to get involved in with Stenny facing a seemingly lost cause but ANNAN could be keen to kill off Elgin City in the second leg of their League One play0off and look to be worth supporting at 19/20. Wullie Gibson's side were 3-1 up at Borough Briggs before the game finished 4-2 on Tuesday and the current League One side will surely want to avoid any doubt with another win over the club which finished 4th in League Two, 11 and 10 points behind the top two of Peterhead and EAST FIFE. Dick Campbell's side start their second leg a goal down to Edinburgh City after Malik Zaid's Tuesday night winner in the capital but they're back over the Forth Bridge for tomorrow's second leg and I can't see past the Fifers at an admittedly short-looking 1/2. East Fife secured second spot behind 1 point winners Peterhead with a home record of 13-3-2 for the main league season and while they need two goals to win the tie and reach the final, one goal will do for us to get the 90 minutes win. Kilmarnock and Dundee could well find a point suiting both clubs when they meet at Rugby Park tomorrow and the draw price of 5/2 being landed would mean both clubs keeping heir heads above relegation waters whatever the results elsewhere. Motherwell deserve plenty of credit for last week's win at Dundee despite the home side's gripes about a disallowed "goal" and unlocked relegation shackles could help cause Hearts enough problems to take a point home from Tynecastle at a high-value draw price of 16/5. Coventry and Bradford landed big promotion/play-off calls for this column in England last Saturday at 11/10 and 4/9 and I'm backing STOCKPORT to take a first leg League One lead back to Edgeley Park by winning their lunchtime kick-off at Leyton Orient. County finished third to two outstanding clubs in Birmingham and Wrexham and while Leyton Orient finished the season with 6 straight wins to take the final play-off spot, tomorrow's visitors won the last encounter in London back in February by a goal to nil. Stockport are 9/5 to get the first leg lead they crave after such a sterling effort during the season proper and Dave Challoner's side can take a massive step towards the final and a second successive promotion. Relegated Ipswich came back from a goal down to take a consolation point at Everton last week but the Tractor Boys could find it tough against BRENTFORD, even with home advantage. The Bees travel to Portman Road after 3 straight wins and 10 goals against Brighton, Forest and Manchester United with punters likely to be rewarded at around 8/13. Saturday SINGLE Carlisle (4/1) was one for the 2-up and win backers last week after they were hauled back to 2-2 and I'm siding with ST MIRREN to win away to Dundee United tomorrow at 2/1. Weekend ACCA Three homes in Scotland and 2 aways in England make for a 5-team Acca pay-out at 29/1. Stockport 9/5 Cove 13/10 Annan 19/20 East Fife 1/2 Brentford 8/13 CELTIC V HIBERNIAN Two of Hibs' last 3 defeats have come away to Celtic and the champions are a best-priced 3/10 to beat the third-top visitors for a third time in Glasgow. I tipped David Gray's side to beat Dundee United at 3/4 last week and while they're 9/1 to spring a shock victory here, there could be some merit in taking the draw price of 9/2 and better. Celtic have bigger days to come when they get the Premiership trophy against St Mirren and the Cup Final against Aberdeen and while Hibs will probably have to score, Kilmarnock did just that in Celtic's last home game and Hibs are 15 points better. DUNDEE UTD V ST MIRREN I tipped St Mirren to beat Aberdeen at 8/5 last weekend and I'm backing Stephen Robinson's players to win again at Tannadice and close the gap on 5th placed United to 2 points with 2 games to play. That could well be as close as they get with Celtic away on the final day of the season but Saints' top six finish is another superb achievement and United looked like they were flagging at Easter Road a week ago. Saints were defensively sound against the Dons and more of the same from Richard Taylor and Alex Gogic can provide a platform for the likes of Mikael Mandron to grab a match-winner for 2/1 Saints. ST JOHNSTONE V ROSS COUNTY I said last week that Saints match against Kilmarnock was a must-win but the visitors managed to leave Perth with 2 goals and 3 points after 6 straight defeats on the road. Simo Valikari's players now host nearest relegation rivals County in the proverbial 6-pointer and hope springs eternal after the Staggies failed to capitalise on a one goal lead at home to Hearts last weekend. County can hope Kilmarnock do them a favour by beating Dundee but they'd have to win this to take advantage and I'll give Saints one last chance to shine at 13/10. RANGERS V ABERDEEN Sunday 12 noon Sky Sports Rangers' run of games without a win stretched to 6 with last week's 1-1 draw against Celtic but the most worrying stat has to be their home form having now gone 7 games without a win at Ibrox. The Dons lost 3-0 on their last visit here in January but Rangers haven't won a league game at Ibrox since their 4-0 win over Ross County in February and the Dons can extend that run with a draw. Jimmy Thelin's men were thwarted by excellent defending at St Mirren last weekend but they'll be hoping to start this game with Hibs having lost at Celtic and they can take a point at least at the draw price of 16/5. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Queen of the South boss named Scottish League One Glen's Manager of the Month for April 2025
Peter Murphy steered his side to all four of their games as they charged into the play-offs. Queen of the South boss Peter Murphy has been named Scottish League One Glen's Manager of the Month for April. The Irishman steered his side to victory in all four of their games in April, seeing off Annan Athletic, Montrose, Kelty Hearts and Stenhousemuir. And that propelled the Doonhamers into the promotion play-offs as they bid to return to the Championship. Murphy said: 'I'm delighted to have won the award as it's recognition for what we have achieved. 'Although it's my name on it, it is for everyone at the club the staff and players for the effort they have put in over, I couldn't have won it without them. 'We have had a great couple of months and it's not over yet.' This is the second time Murphy, who moved to Queens from Annan last summer, has won the manager of the month award this season, having also scooped the accolade in January. He'll be hoping his side can continue their good form when they face Cove Rangers in the second leg of the play-offs on Saturday. The first leg at Palmerston finished goalless. CEO of Glen's owner, the Loch Lomond Group, Colin Matthews, said: 'Peter Murphy has shown outstanding leadership during a crucial stage of the season, guiding Queen of the South through a flawless month resulting in a well-earned place in the play-offs. 'Murphy is a worthy recipient of the Glen's Manager of the Month award for April and we look forward to seeing how the club performs in the coming weeks as they vie for promotion.'
