Can Robinson work Hampden magic against McInnes’ Rangers?
Stephen Robinson’s strong record in cup matches at Hampden gives Aberdeen a possible route out of a difficult start to the season as they face Rangers in Saturday’s League Cup semi-final. Robinson has beaten Derek McInnes’s teams in previous cup ties and says he knows how to help underdogs believe, but Aberdeen have yet to show the consistency needed for another major upset.
Robinson’s St Mirren won last year’s final 3-1 against Celtic after beating Motherwell 4-1 in the semi-final; his earlier Motherwell side also defeated McInnes’s Aberdeen and Rangers in cup ties. Aberdeen have won three of their first 11 league matches and failed to score in four of their six latest home league games. Their defence and set-piece record have improved on last season, but creativity and goalscoring remain concerns, while the absence of defender Mats Knoester weakens their hopes of containing a Rangers side unbeaten in 10 games.
In short
- Robinson has never lost a semi-final at Hampden.
- Aberdeen have won three of 11 league games.
- Rangers arrive unbeaten in 10 matches.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Robinson’s record in cup ties at Hampden gives Aberdeen grounds to believe they can overcome their poor league form. His teams have beaten McInnes’s sides before, and their improved defence could help them stay in the contest long enough to make an upset possible.
The case against
Rangers’ unbeaten run of 10 games and Aberdeen’s struggles to score make the odds of an upset look slim. Aberdeen have won only three of their first 11 league matches, and the absence of Mats Knoester adds to the challenge of containing Rangers.
Explained simply
The Scottish League Cup is a knockout competition, with its semi-finals played at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Aberdeen are managed by Stephen Robinson, while Rangers are managed by Derek McInnes; the two managers have met in cup ties before.
Robinson’s previous teams have reached and won major cup matches, including St Mirren’s League Cup final win over Celtic last season. That history gives Aberdeen a reason to believe they can challenge stronger opponents, but their uneven league form and difficulty scoring raise questions about whether they can do so again.
The tie matters because a semi-final win would take either club to the final and give them a chance to win a major domestic trophy. Rangers arrive in stronger recent form, while Aberdeen’s improved defending will be tested without centre-back Mats Knoester.