Not for the first time, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock will replay in the Scottish Cup on Wednesday night. Of the nine ties played between the two sides in this competition, four of them have now gone to second game. The Red Matchday team look at the previous three replays, which have all been at Rugby Park.

 

1969

The Dons Scottish Cup campaign in 1969 was in stark contrast to a desperate and inconsistent season in the league. Aberdeen eased past Berwick who famously dumped Rangers out of the cup in 1967. Next up were cup holders Dunfermline who were probably in the midst of their best ever period.

The Scottish Cup holders were well placed in the league and also through to the last four of the European Cup Winners Cup. In the first clash at Pittodrie, a last minute goal from the visitors stunned Aberdeen. With both teams facing a home quarter final tie on Saturday 1st March, the replay at East End Park came only 24 hours after the Pittodrie tie on Wednesday 26th February. The general belief was that Aberdeen’s best chance had gone but two Dave Robb goals sent Aberdeen through to the last eight to stun the holders.

Aberdeen had little time to prepare for the visit of Kilmarnock and the same Dons line up that beat Dunfermline were asked to get Aberdeen through to the semi-final. Kilmarnock were also enjoying a successful period on the back of their league title in 1965 they had become regular campaigners in European football. Aberdeen were evolving into a cup side of real quality but despite dominating for long periods they could not find a way through the Ayrshire defence. In what was a real game of attrition, Kilmarnock seemed happy to take the tie to a second game. The nearest opportunity came when Johnston’s effort came back off the bar (main image). While the likes of Jimmy Smith tried to show his class, his efforts were thwarted by the close attentions of the Kilmarnock defenders.

Four days later in what was the Dons fourth cup-tie in nine days, the replay was a classic Aberdeen away performance of the time as a tough resolute defence stood firm and Aberdeen picked off Kilmarnock with relative ease. Goals from Dave Robb, Tommy Craig and Jim Hamilton sent Aberdeen through to the semi-final after an impressive 3-0 win that stunned the Rugby Park side.

1984

In 1984 Aberdeen were going for a quadruple and were also in the middle of their best ever spell in the Scottish Cup when Kilmarnock visited Pittodrie in February.

The Dons were undefeated in their previous eleven Scottish Cup ties as they were winners in 1982 and again in 1983. A remarkable treble was very much on but the Ayrshire side almost caused a shock in the third round tie at Pittodrie on Monday 13th February 1984.

With Aberdeen blazing a trail at the top of the league and looking more like champions in every passing game, they were battling on all four fronts with the Scottish Cup and defence of their European Cup Winners Cup title as well as a League Cup semi-final to face against Celtic. With the European Super Cup already in the bag, these were heady days down Pittodrie way.

However it was a punishing schedule and the Aberdeen squad was being stretched to the limit. Aberdeen were hot favourites to see of Kilmarnock. The Dons were well clear at the top of the Premier while Kilmarnock were still outcasts in the First Division. The last thing Aberdeen wanted was a replay but that’s exactly what happened after a late goal from Kilmarnock’s Gallagher.

Aberdeen dominated the game but found the visitors a tough obstacle. The Rugby Park side came for a draw and take the Dons back to Ayrshire for replay. It was a frustrating night for the Dons who peppered the Kilmarnock rearguard all night but could not find the breakthrough. The Kilmarnock defence was finally breached in 83 minutes when Strachan, Porteous and McGhee set up Peter Weir to score. It looked as though it was job done for the Dons but in the last minute Alex McLeish was caught out and Gallagher ran on to score a shock equaliser.

Alex Ferguson was not that disappointed at the outcome; “We should have seen the game through as we did the hard bit and managed to get our lead. It was frustrating that we could not see the game out; it was not like us but we will go to Rugby Park and look at them coming out a bit. That will help us as our form away from home is good. They will be happy as you could see from their reaction at full time. They have not knocked us out yet.”

In the replay the Dons showed all of their class and game management by cruising to a comfortable 3-1 win. The tie was effectively over after 35 minutes. Gordon Strachan opened the scoring after a sublime passing move in 30 minutes. Willie Miller scored a second five minutes later and the Dons went on to go through to a meeting with Clyde at Shawfield in the fourth round three days later.

2018

A defensive lapse has forced Aberdeen into a tricky replay at Rugby Park with the winner facing Motherwell in a Hampden semi-final. It is a big incentive for both sides as Celtic and Rangers were paired in the second semi-final tie. The Dons made the perfect start when captain Graeme Shinnie gave them the lead after nine minutes when his attempted cross deceived the keeper and nestled in the back of the net. Both McLean and Rooney had chances but were both denied by some great defending from the Ayrshire men. This Kilmarnock side has been transformed under the stewardship of Steve Clarke and they earned a replay when Jordan Jones won a penalty in the 68th minute. A long ball was played into the left side area of the Dons defence and as Shay Logan and Kari Arnason invited each other to deal with the problem, Jones won the ball and headed into the area. Both men reacted too late and between them they brought the winger down. Kris Boyd stepped up and drilled the ball past Woodman to ensure the replay.

The second game Rugby Park was rocking at kick-off with a sizeable, expectant home crowd roaring on the home side. It quickly became apparent that this one might go the distance and it duly did. The importance of the occasion seemed to nullify both sides as it appeared no-one wanted to lose. McLean came closest to an opener for the visitors in the first half with a fizzing drive the that flew past Jamie MacDonald’s post.

Rory McKenzie did create some excitement and a melee when he seemed a touch too aggressive on Gary Mackay-Steven, who was grounded. McKenzie was booked and may have been fortunate not to earn another yellow card when he later drove at the Aberdeen defence and went down. McLean was booked for that challenge but it was not clear whether he connected at all with the Kilmarnock midfielder.

The Dons midfielder would have known he would miss the semi-final as a result through suspension if last season’s finalists Aberdeen progressed. Despite that, he proved influential.

Jordan Jones fired the first shot on target after over an hour, which Woodman dealt with comfortably. Shay Logan then saw his hopes of a semi-final place evaporate when he impeded Jones and was cautioned. His night would get worse later.

O’Donnell was close with a thumping left-foot drive that tested Woodman and the full-back tried again with a net-bound shot which was blocked by a fine intervention from Scott McKenna, who has just been called up to the Scotland squad. At the other end, Ryan Christie hit the wall with a free-kick but smashed the rebound narrowly wide with MacDonald looking beaten. In the final seconds of regulation time, substitute Brophy set up Alan Power, who side-footed well wide. It was representative of a poor contest overall.

But things changed in extra time. Kilmarnock cleared a corner and Brophy outmuscled Shay Logan all too easily. O’Donnell then appeared from nowhere all alone in the box to slam home Brophy’s square ball. However, Kirk Broadfoot impeded May as he was about to shoot and McLean’s finish from 12 yards was emphatic.

Moments later, the midfielder struck a wonderful shot which cannoned off the crossbar. There was more drama to follow. Brophy connected with a header which found the net but was ruled offside. McLean tried again with a shot that crept agonisingly past.

Graeme Shinnie was booked late on and became the third Aberdeen player who would miss the semi-final if the Dons got there. Chidi Nwakali then produced a wonderful late shot as impressive as MacDonald’s save which kept Kilmarnock in the cup and led to the shootout. And then in the penalty shoot-out on-loan Newcastle keeper Woodman became the hero.

Kilmarnock won the toss and elected to go first with Erwin first up, he sent Woodman the wrong way to send Killie in front. Shinnie was first up for The Dons and dealt with the pressure well to score. Brophy was next up for the hosts and hit his shot at a good height for Woodman to get across and push the ball onto the bar to give McLean a chance to send The Dons in front which he did with a powerful strike. If Brophy’s penalty gave Woodman a chance, the next one was even easier as Taylor sclaffed the ball towards goal and saw his shot saved but The Dons couldn’t capitalise on this occasion as McGinn hit the bar. O’Donnell was next up and despite Woodman going the right way his penalty had just enough to find the back of the net. The pressure was on for Stewart but he found the roof of the net with an emphatic strike meaning that Kiltie had to score to keep Killie in it. The youngster’s penalty was saved well by Woodman who ended the match as the hero.

The Dons were heading back to Hampden after coming out on top against a good Kilmarnock side who had thrown everything into both matches but were unable to get the better of Derek McInnes’ men.