IT'S STRESS REHEARSAL FOR DONS

Super Celts put down Hampden marker but rivals have sinking Thelin ahead of final

- MICHAEL GANNON

ABERDEEN sold out their half of Hampden in less than eight hours.

Dons fans might be digging out the receipts for their tickets after this 90 minutes.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers rested some of his big stars ahead of the Scottish Cup Final rematch in nine days - and still pummelled the Pittodrie side.

Johnny Kenny and Maik Nawrocki notched their first goals for the Hoops while Yang Hyun-jun, Luke McCowan and Adam Idah also found the net in an ominous display of power.

Nawrocki headed in the opener from McCowan's corner before Kevin Nisbet levelled.

James Forrest teed up Yang to restore the lead before the break and he then McCowan for the third after the break before crossing for Kenny to nod the fourth.

The Dons' misery was complete when Alfie Dorrington was shown a second yellow for tripping Idah as he raced clear and the Irish striker rubbed salt in the wounds with the fifth.

There was some late concern for Celts though when Reo Hatate limped off.

STAND IN STAND OUTS

Hoops boss Rodgers made EIGHT changes to give some of his stars a rest and allow others to get game time yet they still smashed Aberdeen.

This was no Hoops B team though. Nine of the starting XI are internationals and the other two play for their country's Under-21s.