Panda

Usually we get Opta stats, but they only do the Premiership, not the Cup (maybe they'll do the final). But I did google it earlier and read that Devlin committed the most fouls in the game, but it was only four (which was lower than I thought) but like you say wouldn't have included him grabbing Knoester's collar and hauling him away (which Knoester got booked for while Beaton gave Devlin his last chance), and also earlier when he and (I think) Jensen had a pushing and shoving match in the first half.

Okay well, thanks for your "deluded" insult. So you don't think players get a lift when the crowd is louder? No-one is saying that will be the main factor in whether we get a positive result or not, but Celtic having the majority of the crowd, and Aberdeen's being miles from the pitch behind the goal, gives then yet another advantage, of which they'll already have many on the day.

I'll be in a minority that's glad it's Celtic we're playing in the final. The 2017 final still rankles. We should have done it that day. Shay Logan standing off Stuart Armstrong and letting him hit that equaliser in a half when Celtic offered little. The Jonny Hayes - Kenny McLean mix up that should have given us a second (and to this day I still don't know who to blame). Beat them on 24 May, win the cup, end a 35-year wait, and do it against a seemingly unstoppable side going for yet another treble. It would be beautiful and would finally put 2017 to bed. Tickets I don't actually think we'll sell 21,000. Too many just can't be arsed with what they think (wrongly) will be another defeat to Celtic. So 19,000 probably would do us. However, it's important that Aberdeen fight for half of the North stand. The way the noise projects around Hampden, you can barely hear the fans behind the goal when you're at the other end. Give us half the north, the west stand, and the lower deck of the south. That's about 19,000 tickets - if we sell out, then give us the rest. That's the first fight we need to win long before we get to Hampden.

"This is like a home game for Celtic" says the commentator. And that is exactly why us being offered anything less than a 50/50 split for the final simply hands Celtic an advantage before a ball is kicked, and they clearly don't need many more of those.

I actually really want Celtic in the final. All I've heard since we've won the semi - from Aberdeen fans, Hearts fans, Celtic fans, everybody - is how Celtic will ragdoll us in the final. And they might - we're a team still in transition, while when Celtic get going they are very good. But how sweet would it be to shock everyone and beat them? Whether we play out of our skins and turn in a performance from nowhere, or we shitfest it, stick one right in the coupon with that one. Would be the biggest win for a long, long time. Bring them on. Let them have their wee end at Hampden. Just give us a 50/50 split and let us at them. *Of course, I won't be too displeased should St Johnstone beat them. But they won't, it'll be over by half-time.

For a game where the opposition have had two players sent off, I thought Beaton was at his worst when refereeing Aberdeen. After the first red (he had no choice) we didn't get anything going our way. Absolutely nothing. There was one point he couldn't not give Aberdeen a free-kick, and you could tell his body language how annoyed he was at having to give it. The second red - I don't know if it's the same incident you're taking about but, not much more than a minute before the red, Devlin grabs Knoester off the ball and pulls him back, the two square up, its nothing, but Knoester gets booked and Devlin doesn't because it would have been his second yellow. Shortly after Devlin goes flying into an Aberdeen player, Beaton had no choice.

That's why you go, for that bounce at Dabbagh's goal. Thought we started poorly, but were just beginning to grow into the game when we scored, and Hearts were offering nothing. We had two big chances to extend the lead, but we gift them the equaliser by standing off and letting them cross to an unmarked striker. The second half and most of extra-time was just a horrible game to watch. Hearts had no interest in playing football and we were so slow and pedestrian. Thelin - he got criticised for his subs last week, but he got them right today. Polvara (who I thought was excellent when he came on), Okkels and Dabbagh injected life into us. Also made the correct call by starting Mitov - he made a few mistakes early on, but showed a good experienced head when we were looking nervy and Hearts were flinging balls into the box.

Of the three that are back fit, Mitov is the only one who realistically might start. McGrath an option maybe off the bench. Jensen or Devlin? I think he'll stick with Jensen. Gueye or a more mobile forward like Sokler or Dabbagh? I think Gueye starts because if Thelin expects Hearts to stick to their diamond formation, then there's a good chance to pepper their box early with crosses, which you want him on the end of. Shinnie still at left back? He's an extra five metres to cover on that pitch. I would be tempted to start Mackenzie (if available) and put Shinnie into midfield. If it goes 120 minutes I do worry our options are limited subs wise in the middle with Nilsen out. However, as above, if Hearts play a diamond we'll get space out wide, and I think we'll work on Shinnie, Palaversa and Clarkson all putting crosses into the box. Okkels or Morris? I think right back is a weak spot for Hearts and you want Keskinen targeting them there, so Morris on the right allows Keskinen to play on the left. Aberdeen to race onto a 2-0 lead, then barely kick the ball for the last half an hour, but this time just about hold on.

That's fine though. Hibs have done the right thing; increased the tickets available to Hibs fans, but are still setting out fair allocations of just under 1,500 for the away team. It's the normalising of away allocations of 600 and 800 that's the issue. It's not a healthy thing for Scottish football.

Wee hing I put together with Julia and Keith to get you in the mood for Saturday.

Gong by the away crowds on AFC heritage website when it's sold out, the full allocation appears to be just under 1,700, and Hibs are saying they have been given just 792 tickets, so that's a significant drop. Don't think it's a good road to be going down when Aberdeen usually travel well and therefore any tit-for-tat would affect our away support. Hearts away - usually one of the better away days - is now basically a closed shop unless you're on 400+ loyalty points (and there are always plenty of empty seats in the home end). Be a shame if Easter Road became the same. We appear to be inspired by Hearts with a few things we do, namely Dave Cormack wanting a smaller stadium because it drives up season ticket sales and increases demand, like what happened with Hearts pre-the new main stand. I don't think any club should ever, in any circumstance or any lifetime, aspire to be like Hearts.

We have cut Hibs ticket allocation for this one, selling tickets in Section R to home fans. If Hibs have got the same allocation as Motherwell, that will be only 700-800 tickets. I'm a bit on the fence with this one. I can see the merit in increasing the number of tickets for home fans, especially if there'll be empty seats in the away end. It makes sense for the likes of the recent game with Motherwell. However, I like to see big away supports, it plays a part in the atmosphere, and already we're starting to see difficulties in getting to Hearts away and, to a lesser extent, Dundee United away. Hibs generally give Aberdeen a large allocation at Easter Road so if we're targeting any club it shouldn't be them. If this game was at Easter Road we'd likely still be looking at half that south stand which is around 1800 tickets. This decision seems very Hearts-esque by us. Noted that we haven't cut Celtic's allocation, although we likely won't sell out that one anyway.

Hibs home St Mirren away Rangers away (lunchtime kick-off) Celtic home (midweek) Dundee United away (lunchtime) Not good really. Back-to-back Old Firm games then away to Dundee United. Have to beat Hibs at home and win at St Mirren.

Dons fan won a tournament in Augusta this weekend.

Early thoughts. Hopefully Tobers fit for this. Dorrington not a bad player but his second half v Rangers shows he still has a lot to learn. I'd like to see Sokler start ahead of Gueye, his pace would suit the big Hampden pitch more.

A word for Graeme Shinnie. In all the opposition's faces at the end. Souttar, Diomande, Raskin (who, along with Curtis, appeared to get involved with a fan at the goal), and Barry Ferguson. Didn't take a step back from any of them. He was also arguably man of the match. I was despairing on this very forum not that long ago at suggestions from some his legs had gone or that he was no longer a leader. My fucking captain.

Subs: I think what Thelin wanted to do was get Shinnie into midfield because we weren't aggressive enough. He didn't have many other options (if he wanted Shinnie in midfield) because Mackenzie wasn't in the squad, so Devlin in and Jensen to left-back was the obvious move. I've read the argument for Polvara, but he doesn't scrap the way Shinnie does. It should have been just one of Sokler or Dabbagh going on, but both. Had Morris and/or Keskinen ran their race? I think both still had another 20 minutes in them at least. But, meh. A lot of criticism going Thelin's way for the second half, some of which is merited, but you also have to credit him for another very good first half performance against them. Remember when we used to be crying out for our team to have a go v the Old Firm at home? He had us on the front foot and was seconds away from 6 points from 9 v Rangers. Play like we did in the first half at Hampden, we'll be miles better than Hearts. Play like we did in the second half and, well, let's hope we don't.

Dorrington had a really poor second half. I don't know if he's necessarily to blame for the equaliser, but he gave Rangers constant encouragement that they could get something. It's one thing I've felt all season with Aberdeen though is that we rarely look comfortable with a lead.

Still no Mitov or Tobers. Think we can add Nilsen to the long term injuries. Don't think Rangers will make too many changes, if Barry Ferguson wants the job full-time then losing to Aberdeen then Bilbao isn't going to improve his chances. Can't see many changes from us either. Likely between Gueye, Dabbagh and Sokler for a spot next to Nisbet.

Utterly pointless stat. Hearts are the designated home team for the semi, and they don't usually allow maroon & red to be worn together (even though they likely wouldn't clash), so safe to say we'll be in either the black & gold, or the granite strip. Aberdeen have - at least as far as I am aware - never won a semi-final at Hampden wearing their away strip. 1994 SC semi: Drew 1-1 with Dundee United at Hampden (conceded last minute). In the replay, this time we were back in the red while United wore their away strip, but we lost 1-0. 1996 SC semi: Lost 2-1 to Hearts (both teams wore away strips). 2008 LC semi: Lost 4-1 to Dundee United (was at Tynecastle rather than Hampden). 2018 SC semi: Lost 3-0 to Motherwell at Hampden wearing a blue kit. So the question is, have we ever won a semi (or final) at Hampden wearing an away strip? It should be said - we have won at least one semi-final in an away strip. In 1947 we beat Hearts at Easter Road in the League Cup semi, while wearing an unusual blue top with white sleeves.

Fair dos. I don't particular fear the boy, it was more that it gives Hearts more options, ie Shankland off the bench. Watched them today, they created a lot but couldn't finish. Hopefully have the same luck in front of goal on the 19th.

I *think* James Wilson's red card today for Hearts rules him out of the semi-final, as it'll be a two-game ban in all competitions for violent conduct.