Scottish Cup is everything as Aberdeen look to rescue season

A successful defence of the Scottish Cup is "everything" to Aberdeen after they reached the quarter-finals of the competition, according to The Herald's football writer Stephen McGowan. The Dons came out on top in a dramatic fourth round tie at Pittodrie, winning 2-0 against Motherwell in a match where they had Dennis Geiger sent off but their opponents saw Oscar Priestman and Liam Gordon dismissed. Aberdeen lifted the trophy with a famous victory over Celtic last May but this season has failed to deliver, with Jimmy Thelin sacked and the team still under the interim leadership of Peter Leven as the search for a new manager drags on.