For the first time in nearly 30 years, Hampden plays host to a Hearts/Aberdeen semi final. With European football no longer an option for the Jambos, the Scottish Cup remains their only hope to salvage a disappointing season. Whilst for the North East side, a Scottish Cup semi final victory could provide important momentum in their quest for third. Thomas Harper provides the low down of both teams.
This weekend features a potentially very exciting semi final, as a mostly steadied Aberdeen side face off against a Hearts team desperate for something to brag about this season and to break their “big game hoodoo” under Neil Critchley. Somehow, the last time these two met at Hampden was in 1996, where the youthful Jambos strolled out of Glasgow 2-1 winners with thanks to goals from John Robertson and Allan Johnston. For two of Scotland’s biggest and most successful sides it is mind boggling that it has taken them this long to meet again, but alas they do now.
Here’s the tale of the tape for both sides.
A Chance to Revive Jambo Fortunes?
After an impressive performance despite drawing 0-0 against Rangers on the first day of the season, summer signing Yan Dhanda made a rather bold prediction that was not so outrageous at the time, “I think we can go past the top two. We have shown how good we can be, so what’s stopping us?”
As it’s turned out, it was themselves. Heart of Midlothian as a football club should not be finishing in the bottom six, but a 0-0 draw in North Lanarkshire last week left fans furious and rightly so, the Capital side were only in the top six for three match days of the entire season and notched only 13 points against the sides that achieved what they couldn’t, they just about scraped 1.21 points per match despite finishing third in the expected goal table.
Statistics tell a rather negative story, but there have been some shining lights in Gorgie this season. Their attacking options. Their top goal scorer this season is Royale Union Saint-Gilloise loanee “Rocketman” Elton Kabangu, who took to Scottish football like a duck to water in the early stage of his spell. The Belgian scored six in his first seven games in the Premiership and still provides an exciting factor to their attack despite not scoring in the league for over a month. Young gun James Wilson has impressed for Hearts as well, earning his first Scotland call up against Greece in March and scoring five in fifteen domestically, impressive for somebody who is still attending secondary school! New January signings Micheal Steinwader and Sander Kartum have also adapted well in Scotland.
Hearts play in a diamond 4-4-2 formation to utilise their strong midfield and attacking full backs, but have at times played with a slow tempo that has been accused by fans as “passive”, and you can definitely see where they are coming from. The Jambos are 7th in the table when it comes to goals scored, with an average of 1.3 and could definitely benefit from a change in system, perhaps to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-2-1, but their wing options are less than desired. For me, playing through the likes of Beni Banginme and Blair Spittal will be key, allowing Cammy Devlin to do the dirty work. Lawrence Shankland, despite his lack of goals this season is the squads top assiter and seems to still do a decent enough job of linking up those around him and being a vocal point of the attack, that is how I would play against this Aberdeen side.
Despite their inconsistent form this season they will be backed by over 20,000 fans at Hampden Park, which is a testament to the club but will the players return that faith? Time will tell.
Player to Watch for Hearts: Elton Kabangu
Aberdeen: A Chance to Boost Their Momentum?
What a weird season Aberdeen have had, from going unbeaten in eleven games to not being able to win for three months. It’s safe to say that it has been an emotional roller coaster this season for the Dons faithful; but they have somewhat steadied the ship in recent memory. A 2-1 win away against Dundee in February was their first taste of victory in the Premiership since November, when they beat Dundee (ironically) 4-1 at home. Fast forward to now and Aberdeen are now unbeaten in the league since the turn of March, but are now in a tight race with Dundee United and Hibernian to clinch third place thanks to their shambolic performances during their baron run of form.
The Dons have improved this season but still fall into bad habits, conceding slack goals is their main issue. They have conceded 45 goals this season in the Premiership, two more than their opponents this weekend, thus in January they decided to mainly focus on the defensive end of the pitch with four of six signings that month covering the back in a desperate attempt to improve defensive statistics. Aberdeen have kept a clean sheet in 21% of games this season, Mats Knoester and Alexander Jensen in particular have impressed since joining the club but the Dons are still susceptible to a late goal. They’ve conceded eight goals this season in injury time, including a late Rocky Bushiri equaliser for Hibs at Easter Road, as Aberdeen went 3-2 up a minute prior, and yet again dropping two points but this time to Rangers at Pittodrie. Ianis Hagi’s stunner left a sour taste in the North East despite a brilliant first half performance.
Attacking wise, the Dons have turned a massive corner. Now it feels like the Aberdeen of early doors, inevitable they will score at some point. A resurgent Kevin Nisbet has scored seven in ten and has also been heavily involved in their link up play, cult hero Shayden Morris seems to have finally nailed down a starting spot as his electric pace has provided him with six assists and three goals this season. They have a threat from every area of the pitch, especially on the wings. Finnish young-gun Topi Keskinen has been difficult to deal with this season as well with his frightening pace and clever body control on the ball, with five goals and chipping in with two assists.
To beat Aberdeen you need to disrupt their momentum, they’re reliant on building it throughout a match to build confidence. Two midfielders who make them tick are Ante Palaversa and Leighton Clarkson, shutting them down is key. An early goal or winning the majority of your 50/50s should see you through fine. A through ball to Shayden Morris on Hampden’s massive pitch however could prove to be incredibly dangerous for the Hearts backline to deal with.
Player to Watch for Aberdeen: Shayden Morris
It’s anyone’s game, with some bookmakers making Hearts favourites despite failing to beat Aberdeen this season, only time will tell if they’re right.
