Daily Record

William Hill Scottish Cup: Aberdeen stars will forget about horror semi-final defeat to Queen of the South, insists Andrew Considine

ANDREW CONSIDINE last night urged his team-mates to forget the Scottish Cup nightmare against Queen of the South - and instead focus on ending Aberdeen's 17 years without a trophy.

Four years ago, the Pittodrie defender scored two goals against the First Division side and still ended up on the losing side in their Hampden semi-final.

Considine's luck didn't get any better last season when he was red-carded against Celtic at the same stage of the competition and his hometown team suffered another damaging defeat.

The 24-year-old insisted Aberdeen's grim trophyless run will continue if they dwell on that embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Doonhamers.

Considine said: "Losing to Queen of the South was the lowest point of my entire career and it was a very, very hard defeat to take. We were so close to reaching the Scottish Cup final for my first time as a player but we finished on the wrong end of an upset.

"We reached two semi-finals last season and lost both to Celtic but at least we proved we have what it takes to reach the latter stages of these competitions. The aim is to get back to Hampden again and go one better this time."

The Sun

I can't go through that agony again

ANDREW CONSIDINE hopes victory against the side responsible for his worst ever experience in football will help end his Hampden hoodoo.

Considine and Darren Mackie are the only survivors from the Aberdeen side humiliated by Queen of the South in the 2008 Scottish Cup semi-final.

He said: "Losing to Queen of the South was the lowest point of my entire career as it was a very, very hard defeat to take."

Boss Brown said: "Queen of the South will have a go. They have got some good players and have not lost in their last four games now.

"They have dangerous players such as Sam Parkin up front and I have been impressed with Nicky Clark and the lad Danny Carmichael.

"So if we show any signs of complacency then we could get our backsides felt. We are on a decent run but we are not kidding ourselves that we have cracked it."

The Scotsman

Craig Brown resigned to losing teenage midfielder Fraser Fyvie

ABERDEEN manager Craig Brown is certain midfielder Fraser Fyvie will leave Pittodrie this year.

The 18-year-old, who has made more than 50 first-team appearances despite a cruciate ligament injury disrupting his progress, has told Brown he will not extend his contract after rejecting an initial offer.

Aberdeen would receive compensation should Fyvie depart at the end of his contract in December but will listen to offers for the player in the summer, with Brown explaining he was joking when referring to a £5 million bid earlier this week.

The Herald

Aberdeen v Queen of the South: Memories of the past give Jim Thomson hope for the futureChris Tait
THERE are still a few who feel apprehensive in the presence of Jim Thomson.

Many of them are Aberdeen supporters. They sat watching the former Queen of the South captain as he punched the air following a Scottish Cup semi-final in 2008, a litany of Aberdeen players slumped disconsolately round about him. It had been a fraught afternoon as Queens won 4-3 to reach the final and Thomson was revelling in it.

The two sides will meet again the William Hill Scottish Cup fifth round today, this time with Thomson there in his capacity as commercial manager for the Dumfries club. His retreat from the rigours of playing was inevitable - the defender was 37 when Queens faced Rangers in the final - and just one of myriad changes made to either side since then, with Andy Considine, Darren Mackie and Jamie Langfield the only Aberdeen players who remain from 2008.

That match offers little insight into their meeting at Pittodrie this afternoon, then, but the memories of that day still hold a certain poignancy, for Queens. "We are actually a place higher in the league than we were then," said Thomson, whose side are hovering just two points off the bottom of the first division. "Maybe that is a good omen for Queens.

"That day was just unbelievable, although it wasn't a good day for defences so maybe didn't reflect to well on me. I think the final against Rangers was a bit of an anti-climax for us but the memory that will never leave me is hearing the final whistle in the semi. I scored in the final, but [the semi] was incredible."

Evening Express

Aberdeen FC's Vernon has Hampden ambition
Striker taking aim at Queen of the South in cup

ABERDEEN FC striker Scott Vernon today warned he aims to shoot down underdogs Queen of the South and edge closer to a Hampden return.

Vernon scored at the national stadium in last season's 4-1 League Cup semi-final loss to Celtic.

Now he wants his cup goals to be winners for Aberdeen FC and said: "I want to play at Hampden again."

Fallon says Aberdeen FC focused on cup task
Striker believes club have 'kicked on' from East Fife defeat

ABERDEEN FC striker Rory Fallon today insisted there will be no hangover from their Pittodrie League Cup horror show.

Aberdeen FC's last home appearance in cup competition was a humiliating penalty shoot-out loss to Division Two East Fife.

Fallon said: "I made my debut in that defeat and it was a rollercoaster of emotions. Thankfully we have kicked on from that."

Uchechi injury blow for Aberdeen FC
Nigerian wing ace to miss cup clash

NEW Aberdeen FC signing Danny Uchechi has suffered injury heartache, ruling him out of today's Scottish Cup clash with Queen of the South.

Uchechi had been set to make his Aberdeen FC debut after penning a deal on transfer deadline day.

But Aberdeen FC boss Craig Brown confirmed he has lost his fitness battle and said: "Danny is heartbroken."

The Press and Journal

Seven key men out as Dons face cup nemesis

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown is facing a crippling injury crisis going into the most important match of the Dons' season to date.

Brown's side face Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup fifth round at Pittodrie today and he is determined to avoid another cup failure.

But he will be without seven key players.

Rob Milsom is out for the season while Isaac Osbourne and Peter Pawlett are still a few weeks away from returning. Danny Uchechi and Youl Mawene are facing late fitness tests and Captain Russell Anderson isn't expected to return untill after the league split. Gavin Rae will also miss out as he is Cup-tied.

Yoann Folly could be considered as an eighth casualty having not featured for over 12 months.