Kai Watson: The Scottish League Cup Finalists Are Set
Amongst Scottish Premiership action this weekend two huge ties were taking place at Hampden.
On Halloween Rangers faced off against Aberdeen and the following day the Edinburgh derby took place in Glasgow.
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At a kick-off time that would have displeased many, Rangers and Aberdeen kicked off at 17:30 on Saturday evening, just as the trick or treating was starting..
Aberdeen came into the game low on confidence having lost three out of their last four and losing two in a row. The Dons fans seemed to be turning against Stephen Robinson but he managed to win the League Cup last season, could he get to another Final?
Rangers came into this one after getting a late equaliser at Tynecastle in a match they didn’t deserve to win but should have stolen all three points at the end with Dujon Sterling missing a sitter with one of the last kicks of the game. Outside of drawing their previous two away games, Rangers have won eight of the last ten and Derek McInnes would’ve been desperate to take his team to the final.
It was a first-half which contained some controversial decisions. Rangers players were screaming for a penalty when Mouloua almost caught the ball in the box but nothing was going. Dujon Sterling had a very similar incident but neither were given too much of a look and the game carried on.
There was what could have been a flashpoint as Penrice went in high with a kick but, again, nothing more happened with that one.
The game lacked quality but Rangers had the better chances and Bouanani was a constant threat and looked the most likely to score. The only goal came in the 83rd minute when Kelsy drove up the pitch from an Aberdeen attack. The ball eventually found its way to Neil who laid it off to Penrice and his strike fell into the path of Naderi who opened his foot and slotted it home.
Aberdeen had a couple of chances on the counter but weren’t clinical enough and the pressure mounted further on Stephen Robinson.
Hearts vs Hibs was a cracker and it didn’t take long to get going. Just four minutes in, Claudio Braga found space in the box from a Calvin Miller corner and nodded home. It was an end to end game but Hearts only held the lead for 15 minutes before Owen Elding lobbed a ball through to Boyle who stayed onside, controlled it well and squeezed it beyond Reus.
Both teams were really going for it but Hearts looked more dangerous in the first-half particularly with Calvin Miller’s deliveries. However, Hibs completed the turnaround just before half time as Joe Newell’s shot was blocked but McGrath reacted brilliantly to turn it into the net.
The game remained open, both teams had chances but Hibs looked more likely to score a third than Hearts did to equalise. The game ended 2-1 and what a way to get your first win at your new club for Marink Reedijk!
There’s just over a month until the final and the Dutchmen will be hoping this will be the beginning of a turnaround in form whereas Derek McInnes will be desperate to get his first silverware as Rangers manager.
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