Jimmy Thelin is Aberdeen believer as red-hot Dons book Hampden Premier Sports Cup semi-final slot

Jimmy Thelin admitted Aberdeen will go into the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals with belief.

The on-form Dons booked their Hampden showdown with a convincing 4-0 win over Spartans. The expected win saw Aberdeen make it 11 wins on the spin for the new manager and knows his side can look to last four with confidence but before then his sole focus is on the league and Dundee on Saturday.

Thelin said: “You always have to believe in yourself and stay humble. Let’s see for the draw. We will go all we can in the semi-final. We want to go to Hampden and play there. It will be exciting to go there and see the draw tomorrow. Now we have to focus on the league and to take it game-by-game because we need to put energy into every game. We can’t look forward. It is nice to secure the semi-final at Hampden but we need to focus on the next game.”

Aberdeen saw off the League Two side thanks to goals from Pape Habib Gueye, Kevin Nisbet, Leighton Clarkson and Ester Sokler. The determination to keep a clean sheet was big for the Dons boss. He admitted: “Spartans did well and have an experienced coach. They closed down space and we had to find ways to attack.“The goals at the end of the first half and start of the second were important so we didn’t get stressed out with the rhythm we have.

“The most important thing for me was we had 4-0 but when we lost the ball everybody was spinning back to get the clean sheet. That hunger we need to keep always and to improve from that. Also, the way Pittodrie stood up and gave us the energy to keep us going. I am happy with that.

Spartans Douglas Samuel praised his brave side for making history and getting to the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals. He admitted that on-form Aberdeen was a “step too far.”

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