Down the years the two clubs have enjoyed some memorable battles in this competition.

In Saturday’s RedMatchday Magazine we look back at all the Scottish Cup ties between the Dons and the Buddies. Many of the games have led to replays… 

 

27th January 1912 | St Mirren 3:3 Aberdeen | Scottish Cup Round One

Aberdeen travelled to Paisley ahead of the cup-tie with St Mirren with a timely boost as both Dave Main and Willie Lennie were declared fit after missing the previous defeat at Ibrox. St Mirren were looking to strengthen their side as they secured the use of Everton centre forward Ted Magner for the Aberdeen visit.

Aberdeen had been going well in the league and were confident of taking something from the tie. The Dons brought down a support of around 400 who made the long trip by train and were happy to see their side survive a classic cup tie in a 3-32 draw. The Aberdeen supporters trudged home to Aberdeen Joint station in the early hours of Sunday morning confident their team would win the replay.

The game got off to a sensational start as referee Jackson awarded St Mirren a penalty in the opening minutes after Jock Hume had tackled in the box. Andy Greig the Aberdeen keeper then proceeded to do a ‘war dance’ on his line and it had the desired effect as the St Mirren back blasted the ball wide of the target. Jock Wyllie then put Aberdeen ahead from a penalty awarded after Main was fouled in the box and the reliable Wyllie made no mistake with his effort. But after new signing Magner levelled with a header, St Mirren were to take a half time lead when A Callaghan shot was deflected past Greig.

Aberdeen hit back in the second period and a spectacular shot from Johnny Wood from all of 30 yards was described as the finest goal ever seen at the Paisley ground. When Jimmy Soye put Aberdeen ahead it looked like the Black & Gold’s were through but a last gasp goal from Magner kept St Mirren in the tie.

The Everton forward leaped above the congested Aberdeen defence to head a dramatic equaliser in the closing seconds.

Incredible scenes at the end as Magner was carried shoulder high by the St Mirren support at the end of the game. Aberdeen won the replay 4-0.

Saturday 25th April 1959 | Aberdeen 1:3 St Mirren | Scottish Cup Final

A decade of Scottish Cup disappointment ended in 1959 when Aberdeen lost out to St Mirren in the final. Although Aberdeen had previously distinguished themselves in the league and League Cup, three Scottish Cup final defeats in 1953, 1954 and again in 1959 made for bitter frustration. The irony was that in all three Scottish Cup finals Aberdeen were favourites, and certainly in the 1959 final against St Mirren.

The 1955/56 Scottish League Cup final had given some consolation. The Dons won the match 2–1 against St Mirren, thanks to a goal by Graham Leggat and an own goal by Jim Mallan. The winning goal, scored 11 minutes from the end, was a “wind-assisted cross”. Many described it as a fluke but others, including Leggat’s team mates, had seen him doing it in training and knew the shot from the wing was meant. Regardless, Aberdeen manager Davie Shaw later admitted that they had been “damn lucky” to win the Cup.

In spite of the cup run, 1958/59 was a difficult season for the Dons. The proud record of never bring relegated was almost broken as Aberdeen travelled to Ibrox in the final league game needing a win to remain in the top division. Two goals from Norrie Davidson helped Aberdeen to survive and almost ruined Rangers’ title chances. That huge confidence boost should have given Aberdeen the ideal preparation for the final against St Mirren at Hampden.

Saturday 3rd April 1982 | St Mirren 1:1 Aberdeen | Scottish Cup Semi Final

Aberdeen qualified for the 1983 ECWC competition by winning the Scottish Cup in May 1982 as the Dons swept aside Rangers 4-1 in the Hampden final. It was getting to Hampden that proved the difficult part for the Dons. Coming up against St Mirren in the semi final seemed to be a great opportunity for Aberdeen were an experienced side and Premier League champions two years previously. But in the cup competitions, the Dons had to banish what was fast becoming a bogey.

Having lost two League Cup Finals in 1979 and failing to win anything in 1981, it was the first real test of Alex Ferguson’s side after winning the league. Aberdeen had eased through to the semi finals of the 1982 Scottish Cup in impressive fashion. After John Hewitt’s quickest cup goal in 9.6 seconds against Motherwell in the opening round, Hewitt scored the winning goal again to knock Celtic out in the fourth round. Two Gordon Strachan penalties helped Aberdeen to a 4-2 win over Kilmarnock in a Pittodrie quarter final to set up a Parkhead clash with St Mirren for a place in the final.

Aberdeen were far from happy with the choice of a neutral venue at Celtic Park. Not for the first time Aberdeen and their support had to make the long trek south while their opponents were barely 10 miles from their home ground. Despite that, the Dons took their traditional strong support down for the game and the numbers were evenly balanced. The Parkhead surface was threadbare and did not make for good football. St Mirren also targeted Gordon Strachan as the Dons’ danger man and they sent out the rugged Billy Abercromby to mark the Aberdeen midfielder. The game turned into a battle which suited St Mirren in many ways. However it was referee Hugh Alexander who was in the spotlight as he made crucial decisions in six controversial second half minutes that dictated the outcome of the tie.

Aberdeen had most of the first half possession without seriously troubling the St Mirren goal. Jim Leighton was rarely called into action but the game took a controversial turn on the hour mark. Frank McDougall clearly barged Leighton as the ‘keeper grabbed hold of a long punt from Saints keeper Billy Thomson. The referee gave St Mirren a corner kick as a result of the clash and from that, McCormack flicked the ball on and McDougall scored from close range to put St Mirren ahead in controversial fashion. Aberdeen were clearly aggrieved and made their feelings known to referee Alexander.

Six minutes later and Aberdeen were level. Mark McGhee went on one of his trademark runs into the St Mirren area where he was impeded by both Saints ‘keeper Thomson and Jacky Copland. Whether referee Alexander was mindful of his previous decision or not, he awarded Aberdeen a penalty which was soft at best. Gordon Strachan made no mistake from the resultant award to put Aberdeen level.
It was after that when the game reached boiling point as tackles went flying in. Abercromby had been at Strachan the whole game and he was rightly sent off for a dangerous lunge at the Dons’ talisman after 69 minutes. On reflection a draw was about right but had Aberdeen taken their first half chances it would have been different. St Mirren for their part pushed Aberdeen back for long periods in the second half and could easily have caused an upset.

The SFA had decided that the replay would be at Dens Park in Dundee so it was a happy enough Aberdeen party that returned home still involved in the competition.

Aberdeen full back Stuart Kennedy was ruled out of the replay after injuring his shoulder at Parkhead. Peter Weir was set to return to the side and was expected to be given a starting role at Dens against his former club.

Aberdeen were taking around 14,000 down for the tie and they would easily outnumber the St Mirren support that was well below its numbers at the first game in Glasgow. The heavy rain in the Dundee area meant conditions were also in stark contrast to the game at Parkhead.

Saturday 29th January 2000 | St Mirren 1:1 Aberdeen | Scottish Cup Round Three

Hicham Zerouali arrival after a £450,000 transfer from Fus Rabat came as Aberdeen were really struggling at the foot of the SPL under new manager Ebbe Skovdahl. Hailed as a saviour, there was immense pressure on Zerouali as he tried to adapt to the Scottish game. But he did.

The difficulty for Zerouali was that Aberdeen were under massive pressure. After spending a considerable amount in the transfer market, the Dons were rooted to the bottom of the league, though there was respite in the domestic cups as the Dons made progress in both the League and Scottish Cup with Zerouali making a major impact.

The Moroccan wrote his name into the Aberdeen history books when he scored the club’s 700th goal in the Scottish Cup; typically an unbelievable free-kick against St Mirren in Paisley that set Aberdeen up for win in the replay.

In that first game at Love Street, the Dons were heading out of the Scottish Cup after Steve McGarry had put the First Division league leaders ahead. Aberdeen missed some good opportunities in the second half and it was looking like another defeat for the suffering Red Army. Step forward the Moroccan magician. After a two step run up, from all of 30 yards Hicham hit a rocket past Ludovic Roy. It was an incredible hit that swerved into the top left hand corner of the net. In the dying seconds, Arild Stavrum was given a glorious opportunity to make it 2-1 but failed to score from six yards.

Thankfully that miss would not prove costly in the replay as Zerouali once again starred.

Saturday 12th March 2011 | St Mirren 1:1 Aberdeen | Scottish Cup Quarter Final

Craig Brown was forced into a change on 13 minutes, proving unlucky for David McNamee, who was replaced by McArdle as the full-back’s injury woes continued following a hamstring problem picked up after a late Hugh Murray challenge.

By then, the Dons had already had a claim for a penalty rejected when Maguire went to ground under pressure from Jure Travner. Both sides adapted well to a surface made tricky by the wet surface and falling snow.

The first shot on target did not arrive until the 51st minute, with a 20-yard Magennis effort taking a deflection off the inside of McGregor’s heel and being pushed away by goalkeeper Paul Gallacher.
Aberdeen took encouragement from that and Rob Milsom was next to try his luck from distance, but his 22-yard drive curled wide of the far post.

St Mirren then came to life with the best move of the game only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Jamie Langfield. Substitute Kenny McLean played a one-two with Higdon before firing a low drive with the outside of his foot that was parried by Langfield, who reacted quickly to save Higdon’s attempt on the rebound.

Higdon was causing the Dons problems and sent a curling 18- yard drive flying just wide then rose to send a header off the underside of the crossbar that Langfield was fortunate to gather at his feet before the striker could pounce again.

The breakthrough then came when Dargo’s cross to the back post was volleyed into the six-yard box by Higdon and the unmarked McGowan side-footed home from close range. McLean had a low drive saved by well saved by Langfield as the Buddies went close to a second, while Nick Blackman just failed to connect with a downward Zander Diamond header at the other end. Higdon and Dargo both squandered great chances for St Mirren as Langfield kept the Dons in the cup before there was a dramatic finish.

Deep in injury time a Hartley freekick was flicked on by the head of Andrew Considine and McArdle added the finish from five yards, poking the ball home to set up another Scottish Cup replay between the two sides.

You can read in further detail about all these games and much more in RedMatchday’s Scottish Cup Special. Plus there are some great photos from the AFC archive. To order your copy of the programme click here