Team news

Dons in `last-chance saloon' - Considine Andrew Considine believes Saturday's William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final against Hibernian is the last chance for Aberdeen to end a disappointing season so far on a high.

The Dons, who go into the game with no fresh injury or suspension worries, will finish the Clydesdale Bank Premier League campaign in the bottom half of the table after failing to make the top six before the split.

But victory at Hampden would allow them to take a major step towards claiming silverware, as well as securing a Europa League berth next term if champions Celtic win their own semi-final on Sunday.

Centre-back Considine told RedTV: "The season has not really gone to plan. 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's recent record at the national stadium may be less than impressive - they lost 4-0 to Celtic in last year`s semi-final - but Considine knows the expectations of those who make the long trip from the Granite City will be high.

He said: "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.

"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." Suspended midfielder Lewis Stevenson is Hibernian's only definite absentee after picking up a booking in the club's quarter-final win over Ayr.

Defender Ian Murray and winger Danny Grainger are available after recent hip and groin injuries respectively.

Ivan Sproule hopes he can help Hibs end their 110-year wait for success in the Scottish Cup by breaking his own hoodoo in the competition.

Hibs, who are seven points clear of Dunfermline at the foot of the Scottish Premier League after a season of struggle, last won the trophy in 1902.

During his first spell at Easter Road Sproule reached the last four of the competition in three straight seasons but never made a final, although he was part of the 2007 League Cup-winning side.

"This is my fourth semi-final now in the Scottish Cup," said Sproule, who was on the losing side against Dundee United, Dunfermline and Hearts in a match which saw him sent off.

"It's a monkey I'm looking to shake off my shoulder very quickly.

"Bad memories all round, but it's something that I can put to bed on Saturday and try to get the club to the final and get one step closer to getting our hands on that cup." Sproule struggles to comprehend how Hibs have failed to win the competition in so long.

"You think about all the fantastic players and legends that Hibs have had and it just amazes me how they've never got their hands on the trophy," he added.

"That has to be a big incentive for our dressing room on Saturday. We could do it probably for all those people that have missed out.

"That's the chance that we've got. It's 50-50 on Saturday between ourselves and Aberdeen. They'll fancy themselves, but we've got every much a right to get to a final as they do." Hibs have something of a temporary squad with eight players on loan, the majority of whom were recruited in January during Fenlon's first transfer window as boss.

"There will probably be statues of every one of them outside the ground if they did it," Sproule said. "That's the chance that they've got and that's the beauty of football.

"We've had a horrible season, but it could end on a real high." It is possible the May 19 final could be an Edinburgh derby if both capital sides successfully negotiate their semi-final ties this weekend, with Hearts meeting Celtic on Sunday.

Sproule added: "I would take anybody in the final. Once you get to a final it's anybody's game.

"It would probably be a more painful one to lose against Hearts, but it would probably be a better one to win.

Aberdeen vs Hibernian

Last modified 14:42 14/04/12

Griffiths realises schoolboy dream Boyhood Hibernian fan Leigh Griffiths sent his team into the William Hill Scottish Cup final with a late winner in a 2-1 triumph over Aberdeen at Hampden.

Griffiths latched on to strike partner Garry O'Connor's classy through-ball to slip the ball home with five minutes left.

O'Connor had given Hibs an early lead, but Rory Fallon levelled just before the hour mark with a stunning volley.

Aberdeen had been in the ascendancy after a toothless first-half display, but Hibs regained the upper hand in the closing stages and their front pair proved too much to handle for the Dons defence.

The victory gives Hibs the chance to put aside a disappointing season in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League season by lifting the trophy for the first time since 1902.

Aberdeen will be left to rue a shocking start as they are still waiting for their first cup final appearance since 2000.

Both sides were forced into changes with Jorge Claros coming into the Hibs midfield for the suspended Lewis Stevenson, while Aberdeen midfielder Kari Arnason came in for the cup-tied Gavin Rae.

Fallon, who scored a double against Motherwell in the last eight, replaced Darren Mackie in the starting line-up.

The three SPL games between the teams this season have yielded just one goal and that was from a penalty that subsequently earned Aberdeen winger Peter Pawlett a two-match ban for diving.

But it took less than three minutes for O'Connor to open the scoring with the Aberdeen defence posted missing.

O'Connor first of all had all the time he needed in the box to pick up Isaiah Osbourne's blocked shot and lay the ball back for Griffiths, whose effort was quickly charged down by Mark Reynolds.

The ball fell for Hibs left-back Pa Kujabi, who aimed his cross for O'Connor, who had still not been picked up, and the striker guided the ball inside Jason Brown's near post as Andrew Considine made a belated effort to block.

Hibs comfortably repelled Aberdeen's initial attempts to hit back, which mainly centred around aerial balls.

Aberdeen began to get the ball down with Stephen Hughes becoming more involved in midfield, but Hibernian quickly closed them down inside their own half and sat deep to good effect when necessary.

The Dons could not carve a chance before the break and the lively Griffiths twice came reasonably close from long range.

Aberdeen brought on Fraser Fyvie for the start of the second half with Chris Clark moving from left to right midfield and taking Ryan Jack off.

The Dons got their first effort on goal in the 51st minute when Considine met Hughes' free-kick and headed straight at Graham Stack.

Kujabi shot wide from 25 yards after the Aberdeen defence scrambled to prevent several of his team-mates getting a shot on target and Fyvie soon volleyed well over from a difficult chance.

The match had opened up completely and Aberdeen followed a spell of pressure with a spectacular equaliser from Fallon in the 59th minute.

The move started with Reynolds, whose long ball looking for Fyvie's run was headed out by Matt Doherty. Fallon chested the ball down 25 yards out before sending a left-footed volley looping over Stack and into the top corner.

Aberdeen had the momentum and Fyvie curled wide after being given too much room 20 yards out.

Hibs lost Stack in the 73rd minute after he appeared to suffer a hip strain while kicking the ball and Mark Brown took his place.

Brown's first save was relatively comfortable, getting down to hold Mackie's effort after the striker had turned inside Kujabi.

Griffiths hit the outside of the post from a tight angle after linking with O'Connor on a counter-attack and the pair combined again to put Hibs in front in 85th minute.

O'Connor latched on to McPake's strong header from near the halfway line and played a first-time pass in behind Reynolds and Clark Robertson.

Griffiths was quickly on to it and the on-loan Wolves striker kept his composure to slip a right-footed shot past Brown into the corner of the net.

Arnason shot not far over from 30 yards and Hibs survived a penalty claim when the Icelander's cross appeared to strike the arm of Kujabi.

Brown easily held Vernon's back-header during five minutes of stoppage time and Hibs held on to reach the final against the winners of Sunday's clash between Hearts and Celtic.