REVENGE MISSION

Bookies banking on the Hoops avenging Cup Final loss to Dons

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MEMORIES of Hampden glory will stir for Aberdeen fans when they watch their side take to the Pittodrie field against Celtic at lunchtime tomorrow.

That Scottish Cup Final shootout victory over the Hoops sent the Red Army into the summer break with a smile on their face.

Boss Jimmy Thelin was also granted hero status after becoming the first Dons boss to lift the trophy in 35 years.

But if Kasper Schmeichel hadn't turned Shayden Morris’ cross into his own net at Hampden, the vibe at Pittodrie would have been very different this summer.

Serious questions would have been asked of Thelin after losing the last five games of the season and he would have been under pressure at the start of this campaign.

Lifting the Cup has cut the Swede plenty of slack-and it's just as well given Aberdeen failed to impress in their Premiership opener at Tynecastle on Monday night.

Hearts were well worth their 2-0 win and the margin of victory would have been greater had a Lawrence Shankland screamer not been ruled out by VAR.