Highlights: Dunfermline Athletic 3-0 Aberdeen

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

Dunfermline Athletic eased past beleaguered Aberdeen to advance to their first Scottish Cup semi-final since 2009 with a dominant victory at East End Park.

Neil Lennon's side would have fancied their chances against their top-flight opponents given the ongoing malaise at the managerless Pittodrie club, but the ease with which they breezed past them was remarkable.

Matty Todd's thumping finish, riffled into the roof of the net, put the Scottish Championship hosts into an early lead that they never looked like surrendering.

They doubled their advantage just over five minutes later when Olly Thomas' shot fortuitously rebounded off Dimitar Mitov and cannoned into the back of the net.

There was seldom a moment in the opening 45 minutes that passed without ongoing boos from the Aberdeen travelling support as they looked destined to go another game without a win, and extend their horrendous run of results on the road.

A two-goal lead at the interval flattered the holders but they rallied as the second 45 started.

However, a superb, swift counter-attack allowed the hosts' Chris Kane to slide through a ball for Thomas to take in his stride and rattle in off the inside of the post to end any hopes of an Aberdeen revival.

Dunfermline will find out their semi-final opponents when the draw takes place after Sunday's game between St Mirren and Partick Thistle (19:30 GMT), live on BBC Scotland.

Analysis: Pars power past putrid Dons

Their last-minute winner against Hibs in the fourth round would be enough cup magic to keep a smile on the fans' faces but Dunfermline now return to Hampden for the first time in 17 years.

Given they sit fourth in the Championship, this win will give them a huge boost as they continue their push for promotion.

Lennon's side looked every bit equal, if not superior, to an Aberdeen squad that dwarves theirs in every metric possible - except form.

Managerless, rudderless, void of confidence, and with only one win in eight, Aberdeen fans will be fearing the worst now.

The Scottish Cup would have offered a potentially positive distraction to their Premiership woes but now it is all about avoiding the relegation play-off spot.

Falkirk, Rangers, St Mirren and Hibernian lie in wait pre-split, a run of fixtures that finding any cause for optimism in there proves challenging.

Likewise, pinpointing the Dons players who will be able to carry this side, and their team-mates, through a tricky relegation battle is similarly puzzling.

What they said

Dunfermline manager Neil Lennon: "That's one of my best achievements in football, doing this with Dunfermline, with where we are at the minute. I just said to the players there, I said, drink it in. You're going to the big show now and you've really put the club on the map, which is what we've all been looking to do.

"Everything's relative.

"If you put it in context it's up there with winning trebles, or Barcelona, or Lazio, or getting promoiton with Hibs and winning a cup out in Cyprus.

"It's right up there with the magnitude and signifance of what we've done here tonight."

Aberdeen intermim manager Peter Leven: "Frustrated, angry, disappointed.

"They scored and then we just capitulated.

"Embarrassing. They wanted it more, first and second balls, our quality in possession was really, really poor.

"And I apologise to the fans because it's nowhere near acceptable.

"I had a chat with them there, I can't defend them anymore.

"They've got to take responsibility and we're in trouble."

Player of the match

M. Todd
8.38
10 M. Todd
8.38
19 O. Thomas
8.08
26 A. Tod
7.91
13 A. Oxborough
7.88
47 R. Fraser
7.80
39 F. Turley
7.66
14 Alfons Amade
7.66
20 C. Kane
7.63
8 C. Gilmour
7.46
5 C. Hamilton
7.29
2 J. Chilokoa-Mullen
7.17
35 T. Oakley-Boothe
7.14
11 S. Kearney
7.00
3 K. Ngwenya
6.89
33 J. Cooper
6.78
4 K. Benedictus
6.61
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