275 years as your voice
Barry Robson must have felt a noticeable weight of tension on his shoulders full-time on Saturday night.
Reaching a cup final in his first full season in charge of the Dons is a remarkable achievement for Robson, and it could be even greater if he can lead Aberdeen to win the silver medal at Hampden on December 17.
When Robson named him interim head of giving in January following Jim Goodwin’s departure, his purpose was clear.
He had to temporarily repair pride after a run of embarrassing effects and the club was not caught up in a battle for survival at the end of the season.
The former Scot exceeded all expectations with a magnificent winning streak that culminated in the Dons finishing third and securing the organizational phase of European football.
Robson has more than proven that he deserves a shot at the job on a permanent basis, but his instant good luck means that the demands and expectations have changed, especially at the start of this season.
There was a massive turnover of players as the Dons tried to build a team that could challenge on all fronts.
Robson had to be patient for some of his new recruits to get into the building while others, who arrived with a decent reputation, showed up slightly.
A win in their first competitive games of the season – a nerve-wracking 2-1 win at Stirling Albion – brought out the Doubters in full force.
But it turns out that Robson has a habit of getting effects and functionality when he wants it most.
The Dons lost 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt in September, but produced a very encouraging performance on a night when many fans probably feared a heavy defeat.
That followed an emphatic 4-0 home win over Ross County and, suddenly, the Dons were up and running.
The huge 2-1 quarter-final win over County in Dingwall a few days later was huge, followed by a stunning 3-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox that ended Michael Beale’s tenure.
The Dons will feel they have won at least one, if not both, of their recent Conference League home games against HJK Helsinki and PAOK, but they are far from embarrassing on the European stage.
Getting used to the demands of playing big European games on a Thursday followed by league games on a Sunday, as opposed to groups that have had a full week to prepare, has been a challenge.
The 0-0 draw at St Johnstone and the 2-0 defeat at Kilmarnock are proof of this.
But the 4-2 win at Motherwell in midweek, followed by the 1-0 win over Hibernian at the weekend, shows the Dons are heading in the right direction.
And Robson is right to point out that Aberdeen came into Saturday’s clash in tougher cases than their opponents.
Hibs had back-to-back home games and an extra day to prepare for the semifinal after their match against Ross County on Tuesday.
The Dons, on the other hand, moved from the clash at PAOK last Thursday to Kilmarnock on Sunday and then another south to Motherwell on Wednesday before Saturday’s game at Hampden.
Robson felt he still had no chance to stay with the team in Glasgow after the game against Motherwell and it proved to be a sensible decision.
A madman from Inverurie who did well, the enthusiasts at Dons desperately want Robson to be a success.
The challenge this season has been that, at times, the hole between the floor and the ceiling of the team is too big.
There were some wonderful displays, but also some well below average.
But this is an Aberdeen team in transition and Robson is still developing in the control game.
He deserves time to do well and he will get it after leading the team to a cup final.
In his first season at Pittodrie, Alex Ferguson guided the Dons to a League Cup final with a 1-0 semi-final win over Hibernian.
They lost 2-1 to Rangers in the final, but the experience proved important for the good times that followed.
Robson hopes his first definitive will have a happier ending and hint at an even more promising era to come.
Analysis: Miovsky the Mighty meets once for Aberdeen