Dundee 2
Aberdeen 2
Scottish Cup (Quarter Final)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier .

How tragic and ironic that an error by Bobby Geddes should make a necessary Scottish Cup quarter-final replay between Dundee and Aberdeen.

Tragic-that a famous victory should be snatched from Dundee in such cruel fashion.

Ironic - that the mistake was made by a player who has had a magnificent season.

The Dark Blues were just 17 minutes away from a place in the semi-finals when, with the scoreline standing 2-1, the big keeper decided to dribble the ball forward before clearing up the park.

Geddes had, however, failed to see Aberdeen's Neil Simpson who came from behind him, took the ball away and crossed for John Hewitt to head in the equaliser that means Dundee must do it all again at Pittodrie on Wednesday night.

Manager Archie Knox, though understandably disappointed that the game at Dens should have ended 2-2, refused to criti cise his goalkeeper.

His anger was instead directed at the crowd, or rather lack of it. On the eve of Saturday's game he had stated, "I'll be bitterly disappointed if we don't get 20,000."

Well, only 13,188 people turned out and he blasted "That's a disgraceful attendance for a quarter-final, local derby game-What do the fans want?"

Reflecting on the game, Archie said, "The players are sick, they knew it was in our grasp. When we went 2-1 up I couldn't see Aberdeen coming back and thought we were doing enough to get there.

"But we live to fight another day the prize of a semi-final place is still these for us."

Available for the replay will be Bobby Glennie, who has now completed his suspension, and Ray Stephen, who missed Saturday's clash after twisting his knee in training 24 hours earlier.

"Ray would have made it otherwise, the groin injury had improved sufficiently, but he'll be okay for Wednesday night," revealed the Dens Park boss.

Aberdeen's Eric Black and Neil Simpson are suffering from rib injuries, but Joe Miller should be available for the replay.

Manager Alex. Ferguson commented, "Obviously, at 2-1 down I was worried, but it was a great cup-tie and a marvellous game for the fans."

Dundee were the better team in the early stages, but fell behind in 24 minutes when a Black cross eluded Jim Smith before finding the head of John Hewitt.

The Dark Blues, however, bounced straight back and less than 120 seconds later were on level terms when Graham Harvey slid home a cross-cum- shot from John Brown.

Midway through the second period they went in front when Brown headed home after Smith had knocked on a Bobby Connor corner.

For only the second time this season Dundee had turned a deficit into a lead, but it was not to be their day with Hewitt grabbing his and Aberdeen's second.

Archie Knox's side deserved to win this game. They proved that the confidence which abounded at Dens all week wasn't misplaced and can com- plete the job at the second time of asking.

John Hewitt was the sponsor's man of the match, but Bobby Connor proved again that he is one of the best midfield opera- tors around, completely over shadowing the much-vaunted Jim Bett.

Dundee also had sterling service from Graham Harvey, John Brown, Tosh McKinlay and Stewart Forsyth, while the others weren't far behind.

There were two bookings, Simpson for hauling down Connor and Vince Mennie for failing to retreat at a free-kick.