Derek McInnes, the Aberdeen manager, admits he has been keeping a watching brief on the Hibernian exploits this season. There’s been quite a bit to catch the eye, of course.
The key objective of earning promotion back to the Ladbrokes Premiership after three years in the second-tier has already been achieved by Neil Lennon’s side while the Edinburgh club are not allowing their grip to be wrested from the Scottish Cup they won last May. When you’ve waited 114 years to get your clutches on the trophy, you’re not going to let go easily.
It will be McInnes and his Aberdeen side who will attempt to prise those fingers off this cherished old clump of silverware when the two sides square up in the first semi-final Hampden on Saturday. It promises to be an intriguing tussle between two teams riding high and McInnes is well aware of the menace posed as the Dons attempt to negotiate another perilous obstacle in their quest to capture the cup for the first time since 1990.
“I have seen a lot of Hibs in the last while,” said McInnes. “I have seen more of them this season than I did last year and I think there is a case there that they are an even better side than the one that won the cup last season. We have got a challenge this weekend but you don’t get to a semi-final and not expect to have a challenge.”
Alan Stubbs, the former Hibernian manager, probably gets paraded down Leith Walk in a sedan chair every time he sets foot in Auld Reekie having finally delivered a Scottish Cup win last year but the one thing he couldn’t secure was promotion to the top table.
Lennon, with all his experience and fiery, competitive instinct, has managed something that was just beyond his predecessor.
“It is difficult to compare the two,” added McInnes. “It was maybe tougher to get out of the league in Alan’s time but to win a cup was a brilliant achievement.
“Neil has got the experience of winning things. He has probably brought that real mentality to them which is important over a league campaign. They will be feeling like they are at home at Hampden this weekend. Neil is used to that environment as well.
“Although they are in a lower league, I still think it is evenly matched but hopefully we can drive ourselves into a final.”
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