Queens bid to be Kings of Hampden

Scottish Cup action returns this weekend, and while Rangers visit Partick Thistle in their Quarter Final replay on Sunday, attention switches to Hampden Park tomorrow and the semi final clash between Aberdeen and First Division Queen of the South.

The Doonhamers have had a splendid season since going full time last summer. They sit fourth in the Irn Bru First Division, but it is their Scottish Cup run, where they have seen off the likes of Linlithgow Rose and Dundee, which has captured the imagination. Queens stand just 90 minutes away from reaching their first Scottish Cup final.

And the Dumfries public haven’t let them down, with over 8,500 tickets being sold. Queens have the potential for a big support if they are successful, and a win over Jimmy Calderwood’s Dons would certainly rank among their greatest ever achievements.

The hallmark of the Palmerston team has been a work ethic. Boss Gordon Chisholm has instilled that in his players, who have plenty of experience. Midfielder Steve Tosh featured for Aberdeen, Raith and Falkirk while also playing in Gretna’s 2006 cup adventure. Striker Stephen Dobbie, previously of Rangers, Hibernian and St Johnstone and pictured above, has netted 16 league goals, just one shy of the divisions top scorer, Hamilton’s Richard Offiong.

They will make life hard for the Reds, who have had an up and down season. They clinched a top six berth in the SPL by beating Falkirk on Monday, have gone on to play Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup round of 32 but lost 4-1 to Dundee United in the CIS Cup semi final.

Manager Calderwood knows how to take a team to Hampden, as he, along with Dons players Barry Nicholson and Richie Byrne, took Dunfermline to the 2004 final. That year, his semi final opposition were also from the First Division, when Inverness took the Pars to a replay, ironically at Pittodrie, before the Fifers won 3-2.

No replay will be required this time though, and I’m going to stick my neck on the line and predict Aberdeen will be returning to the National Stadium in May, but don’t write off the underdog. This Scottish Cup season is proof of that.

Aberdeen v Queen of the South is live tomorrow on Sky Sports 1 from Noon, with Kick off at 12.15pm.