Hampden a ‘daunting’ place but Andrew Considine plans to settle his nerves

It’s little wonder, then, that the central defender – who will wear the captain’s armband for the Pittodrie side this afternoon if, as expected, Russell Anderson can only find a place on the substitutes’ bench – yesterday described playing at Hampden as “daunting”.

The first of those four semi-finals was at Tynecastle, a 4-1 League Cup defeat by Dundee United in February 2008, but the other three were all at the national stadium: the unforgettable 4-3 loss to Queen of the South in April 2008, and the two one-sided defeats by Celtic last year (4-1 in the League Cup and 4-0 in the Scottish Cup).

Considine’s trepidation is understandable, but he says his early nerves will only last a few minutes and believes that the key to success in this lunchtime’s televised match will be making sure that he and his team-mates settle quicker than Hibernian.

“Every time you play at Hampden it is a learning curve so, even although we have lost there on the last few occasions, you do get vital experience,” explained Considine, who was made captain earlier this season when Richard Foster left for Bristol City, but then passed the armband over when Anderson returned to Pittodrie after four-and-a-half years in England.

“It is daunting going there to be honest. There is a lot of pressure. The expectation is there because Aberdeen is a massive club and people expect us to be winning cups.

“The first five minutes are always a bit nervy, but after that you settle in and then it is not so much an occasion but a game of football. Hopefully we can settle first and get a grip of the game.”

While Considine has been a consistent and excellent performer at the heart of the Aberdeen defence all season – the 25-year-old won the club’s Player of the Year award earlier this month – it has so far been another disappointing campaign for Craig Brown’s men. The Dons crashed out of the Scottish Communities League Cup at home to Second Division East Fife back in September and have missed out on a place in the top six.

Considine knows this afternoon’s semi-final represents the last chance to make sure the season can still end on a high, with not just a place in the Scottish Cup final on 19 May at stake but also a possible route into the Europa League if Celtic defeat Hearts in the other semi-final tomorrow.

“The season has not really gone to plan,” continued the defender. “We did not get in the top six again. We knew after the quarter-final that the bottom six would be where we would end up so everyone has been looking forward to Saturday’s game since then.

“It is the last chance saloon to get into Europe, which would be great. It is a couple of years since we have played in Europe. That is really where we feel we should be.”

Aberdeen supporters will be travelling to Glasgow in decent numbers today, with around 15,000 expected in the North and West stands despite the 12.15 kick-off. One group of fans has spent the best part of a month planning a pre-match card and banner display, which will be unveiled when the teams emerge from the tunnel. The supporters, given a £500 donation from the club to add to the funds raised themselves, were allowed access to Hampden yesterday afternoon to set up, although Aberdeen said this week that “the design of the display is strictly under wraps” until just prior to kick-off.

Considine and Brown, well aware that the Dons are chasing their first Scottish Cup win since 1990 and their first Hampden final appearance in 12 years, were both keen to stress yesterday the importance of not letting the support down.

“I am proud just to play for this club because it’s massive and the support we get is out of this world,” said Considine.

“The support we had down at Hampden last year [against Celtic] was fantastic and I think the numbers are similar this season. They can really spur you on. They can help us. They are our 12th man. Although we have not done that well this season the support has still been great. Every boy in the dressing room appreciates that. Without the fans we would not be the team or the club we are.”

Brown, who has mentioned the fans in virtually every interview this season, added: “I have always said the fans here are hugely supportive. Somebody at the club said there are 132 buses already going, a lot of private cars and there is a good rail connection to Glasgow as well, so there is a huge support going and our objective is to ensure that we don’t let them down.

“The fans don’t win the games but they are hugely influential. Psychologically the bigger support should help us but you don’t win it psychologically, you win it on the pitch. I think there is hardly a team meeting passes that I don’t refer to the fans and the importance of making them proud of the team, and I will be reinforcing that massively before we play the game on Saturday. The goodwill towards this football club in the North East of Scotland is quite incredible and the only way they can be repaid is by winning the game.”

Brown says he will not reveal his starting XI to the squad until shortly after 11am today, and he has a few selection dilemmas to resolve first.

Few expected Fraser Fyvie to be fit in time to face Hibs when he was stretchered off during the quarter-final win over Motherwell following a crunching tackle by Keith Lasley, but the young midfielder came on as a late substitute in the win over Dundee United last week and, with Gavin Rae cup-tied, is likely to start.

Considine went off injured at Pittodrie last week, but will take his place in central defence, most likely alongside on-loan Mark Reynolds, meaning Anderson will be named only among the subs.

In attack, Brown has to decide whether to give Darren Mackie or Rory Fallon the nod to partner Scott Vernon. Mackie scored the opener against United, but it was Fallon’s two goals at Motherwell that got them here.