Graeme Shinnie marked his 600th professional appearance with a goal as Aberdeen cruised into the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-finals by beating Queen’s Park 4-1 at Pittodrie.
The Championship outfit started promisingly, but two goals in two minutes from birthday boy Kevin Nisbet and fellow striker Oday Dabbagh had Callum Davidson’s side in real trouble.
And seconds before the break Dons captain Shinnie, previously of Inverness, Derby and Wigan, celebrated a landmark afternoon by firing in a third to effectively end dreams of Scottish Cup glory for the Spiders, who beat Rangers at Ibrox in the previous round.
Dabbagh added a fourth after 52 minutes and, although Spiders striker Zak Rudden reduced the deficit in the 68th minute, Jimmy Thelin’s side joined Hearts in the last four.
Celtic play Hibernian on Sunday and Livingston host St Johnstone on Monday in the other two quarter-finals.
The visitors started the game confidently and with a threat.
Jack Turner’s volley following an Adam Devine corner was blocked by an Aberdeen defender and then attacker Kyle Hurst picked up on a short headed back pass from Alexander Jensen inside the home side’s box but could not take advantage.
At the other end Dabbagh shot wide of the far post from an incisive Shayden Morris pass and midfielder Leighton Clarkson flashed a shot from 20 yards just over the bar.
The deadlock was broken when Nisbet, on loan from Millwall and celebrating his 28th birthday, brilliantly flicked in from three yards at the near post from an Ante Palaversa corner.
And when the Glasgow side failed to clear their area properly, the Dons attacked again, the ball was played to Morris and his cross reached the back post, where Dabbagh knocked it into the empty net.
Just before the break Queen’s Park midfielder Sean Welsh appeared to kick out at Dabbagh after the two players tangled, but no action was taken by referee David Dickinson nor the VAR, despite a check.
Aberdeen effectively booked their last-four place in first-half added time when Shinnie picked up a clearance 25 yards out following a Palaversa corner and returned a drive which Calum Ferrie could only help into the net off a post.
The Queen’s Park goalkeeper was alert to block a close-range shot from Nisbet soon after the break but had little chance when Morris’ cross from the right, after he had skipped past Zach Mauchin, allowed Dabbagh to net from close range.
With the tie secure, Thelin replaced on-loan Charleroi forward Dabbagh, Nisbet and Topi Keskinen with Fletcher Boyd, Peter Ambrose and Papa Gueye.
Ferrie made a save from Morris’ strike but spilled the ball and had to scramble to complete the clearance.
Davidson’s side reduced the deficit when substitute Jadan Raymond’s free-kick into the Aberdeen area broke to Rudden, who popped the ball in from close range to give the small band of travelling supporters something to cheer.
Ferrie made further saves from substitutes Dante Polvara and Ambrose, but Queen’s also kept going to the end, although their fate had been sealed.
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