Duncan Shearer: It’s a Dons v Gers Cup Final and Aberdeen will win

Duncan Shearer tips Dons to do the double.

Aberdeen’s achievement in ending their 19-year wait for a trophy will be recognised by an open-top bus parade through the city on Sunday.

And one of the men who delivered the League Cup last time round predicts it will merely be a warm-up for the mother-and-father of all celebrations when the Dons win the Scottish Cup later this season.

Duncan Shearer was the scorer of the club’s crucial opening goal in the 1995 success over Dundee.

Back then the club failed to build on their success, slipping back to mid-table mediocrity the following season.

This time, Shearer insists, will be different.

“I can definitely see Aberdeen doing the Double,” says the 51-year-old, who got a close-up view of their Celtic Park success in his role as Inverness Caley Thistle coach.

“I fancy them to get past St Johnstone then beat Rangers in the Final which would allow their fans to die happy!

“Naturally, though, if it was to go the other way, I am sure the same would apply!

“When we won the League Cup in 1995, there was a lot of talk about how we would kick on from that.

“As it turned out, that didn’t really come to pass. Eoin Jess, one of our best players, left for England at the end of the season and we finished up sixth in the League the following year.”

Years of mediocrity followed, with the success enjoyed under Alex Ferguson becoming an increasingly distant memory.

But Shearer doesn’t expect the Aberdeen fans to have another long wait for more silverware.

“The way Derek McInnes has got his side set up, you have to fancy them to follow up the success in the League Cup by winning the Scottish Cup,” he says.

“From front to back, they are rock solid.

“When we beat them up at Pittodrie at the start of the year, I spoke to Derek and said: ‘You are a ginger-heided striker away from being a strong side!’

“A day later, their Chief Executive, Duncan Fraser texted me ‘Heard what you said. Well, we’ve got one.’

“While I’d been joking I was the one for the job, I knew they were in for Adam Rooney!

“I know Adam well from his time in Inverness, and was sure he would be the perfect signing for Aberdeen.

“That is exactly how it has turned out. He gives them a figurehead, a real focal point to their attack.

“They have great threat from the wide areas, with Peter Pawlett and Jonny Hayes very dangerous players.

“Aberdeen were not at their best in the Final, and the absence of those players hit them hard.

“Don’t get me wrong, I think we played very well. Our tactics countered Aberdeen’s attacks and got us all the way to penalties.

“If we had only been able to nick a goal, we would have won the Cup.

“However, that doesn’t detract from what I think of the Dons. They have lots of experience, which shows in the consistency of their results.

Shearer’s confidence that Aberdeen will win through their semi-final against St Johnstone is not unexpected.

The same can’t be said for his conviction Rangers will see off Dundee United.

The Tangerines hammered Inverness 5-0 on their own patch to book their place in the last four, and are the bookies’ clear second favourites to win the competition.

“No two ways about it, they were brilliant against us in the quarter-final and got an amazing result,” Shearer admits.

“They have a lot of good young lads in their side. With Nadir Ciftci, Gary Mackay-Steven, Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Gauld, they have an abundance of attacking talent.

“Personally, though, I suspect their inexperience might make them vulnerable on the day.

“You can’t ignore, either, the fact the tie is going to be played at Ibrox.

“I know technically it’s a neutral venue, but the Rangers players will be running out to play in a ground they know better than any other.

“You have to imagine that will make a difference, especially as they are going to have the majority of the crowd behind them.

“That would bring us to the Final the rest of the country probably wants to see Aberdeen v Rangers.

“That one would create a stampede for tickets.

“They are two of the very biggest names in Scottish football and there would be so much extra spectacle to the occasion.

“Rangers have been unbeaten all season in winning League One. But do we really know how good they are?

“Now, I accept the semi-final will go a long way to providing us with an answer.

“United are a strong Premiership side who ran out comfortable winners when the teams met at Tannadice last season.

“For the reasons I have mentioned, though, the circumstances of that tie makes me think Rangers can get past United this time.

“And to be fair, for Rangers, just getting to the Scottish Cup Final would be an incredible accomplishment after all the restrictions they have had to put up with.

“They are a work in progress.

“Aberdeen, though, are different. They would be a more formidable opponent because they are that bit further down the road.”

A road that, this afternoon, will be lined with tens of thousands of celebrating supporters.