This most curious of Aberdeen seasons will end in Scottish football’s showpiece occasion. Time will tell whether this outcome proves fatal for the Hearts manager Neil Critchley, who has a damaging habit of falling on the wrong side of fine margins. Celtic or St Johnstone lie in wait for Aberdeen on 24 May. Jimmy Thelin’s team opened the campaign by going 16 unbeaten. A 12-game stretch where they could not win was to follow. The Scottish Cup final will round off their 2024-25.Oday Dabbagh was Aberdeen’s hero, scoring the odd goal in three with less than two minutes of extra time remaining. Hearts played the entire second half with 10 men following Michael Steinwender’s red card. They were later reduced to nine after Cammy Devlin collected a second yellow. Hearts were sturdy and stuffy enough but, like so often this season, lacked punch. Continue reading...