Former Hibs boss sparks unthinkable relegation concerns at rival as 'devastating' display unlocks deep fears
Dunfermline Athletic stormed to victory over Aberdeen with a convincing display masterminded by an ex Hibs gaffer.
A former Hibs boss has triggered ‘serious’ relegation fears at Aberdeen to move into a Scottish Cup semi final.
Neil Lennon remains well thought of within the Hibs support after guiding the club out the Championship and back to European football, now in the second tier once again at Dunfermline. The former Hibs and Celtic boss has secured an eye-catching 3-0 quarter final win over the 2025 winners at East End Park, having previously put Hibs out the competition at the fourth round stage.
Two goals were struck inside 22 minutes by Andy Tod and Olly Thomas before the latter struck after half time to seal progress, where they could meet rivals Falkirk at Hampden. Lennon said: “It’s beyond my wildest expectations. It’s one of the best things I’ve done in football. This is as good as it gets at the minute.
Neil Lennon on Dunfermline Athletic 3-0 Aberdeen
“I couldn’t be more proud of the team. I felt we had a chance in the game. I’ve watched Aberdeen three or times over the last month or so. I felt we could compete with them. When we’re good, we’re very, very good. And we were very, very good tonight. Everything I asked of the team, they gave me. It’s a great night for everyone at the club and for the people of Dunfermline.
“We’ve put the club back on the Scottish football map. A magnificent achievement and a magnificent performance against a highly motivated Aberdeen team. I thought we were a good side but we excelled, and we thoroughly deserved. We are going to Hampden and it is just incredible. It is something to savour. They had a great chance early on and Aston Oxborough made a very good save but after that we dominated in terms of play, chances and our football was swashbuckling. On the counter we were devastating.”
On a bad run of form, without a permanent manager and eight points off the dreaded relegation play-off spot, interim gaffer Peter Leven admits the Dons could be in shock bother of an unthinkable relegation for a club who have had ambitions of the top three in recent seasons. He said: “We’re in trouble, we’re in serious trouble, because we’re not picking up wins, we’re not picking up points, and we’re out of the Scottish Cup. There’s a real possibility we can get dragged into the relegation fight, I said that to the players after the game.
Could Aberdeen be relegated from Premiership?
“We cannot go on like this, but I can’t protect them any longer. They’ve got to stand up and be counted. They have to show the character because we can’t do anything else, there’s no transfer window, so they’re going to have to pick it up.
“We started okay, we had a chance with Stuart Armstrong, but after that, I can’t defend the players any more, that was unacceptable. I can only apologise to the fans for what they’ve seen.
“We had so many experienced players on there, but we never won the battle. First balls, second balls, a lack of fight, a lack of confidence, it’s really poor. We’re the holders, and we’ve limped out the Scottish Cup, that’s unacceptable for me. I can take losing, but after going 1-0 down, the fight was gone, and that was so disappointing.”
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