DON'T SNIFF AT IT, BREN .. CUP LOSS

ABERDEEN'S Scottish Cup win should have had the same effect as smelling salts being waved under Brendan Rodgers nose to clear his head.

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The manager's mind must have been scrambled by the lumbering, lackadaisical and lacklustre nature of his team’s performance at Hampden.

The weight of history was on their shoulders and, to a man, they collapsed under the strain.

But Aberdeen may have done Celtic a favour in the long run by exposing their inadequacies.

There was more than a party stage dismantled at Celtic Park after the defeat. The illusion of Celtic having adequate strength in depth to begin next season with a Champions League qualifier that will carry a £30million sidestake was razed to the ground at the same time.