Down but not out

Having being beaten by Hamilton and Falkirk for the first time in years, and beaten by ICT for the first time ever, the Dons narrowly avoided losing to St Mirren for the first time in a good few years (ok, not even a decade, but still a long time!) on Tuesday. Tommy Wright's first league goal saved a point, as well as the blushes of Mackie, Miller and Aluko who had all missed good chances earlier, not to mention Zander and Mair who were at fault for St Mirren's earlier goal.

However, Motherwell's equally-bad defending means we are now 8 points behind Hearts, although only 3 behind Dundee United, who before Tuesday seemed to be finding it as hard as us to win games.

I previously thought that if we finished February "in touch" with Hearts and Utd, we would be in with a great shout of 3rd. However, I didn't think the wins in 2009 would be at Kilmarnock and home to Celtic. Losing to Hamilton and Falkirk wasn't on the agenda, nor was drawing with St Mirren and Killie at home.

Just like the English title race, Hearts are catchable, but while they look like winning games, Aberdeen and Dundee Utd have managed 1 win between them in their last 6 games each. I say this every month I know, but this month will be crucial - Hamilton at home then Hibs away before the break for the Scotland game. Given Hibs' form of late, 6 points has to be the target.

Anyway, enough about the league - the Scottish Cup will be a pleasant distraction on Saturday, or so I hope. A quick look at Dunfermline's team tells us they have plenty SPL experience, and enough to cause us a few problems. Almost 6,000 Dandies will hopefully roar the team to victory, but with Miller and MacDonald (anyone else notice how we've stopped winning since he's been out of the team?) it won't be easy.

A win and a good draw in the semis and we have a great chance of making the final. In case anyone was in any doubt, a defeat is absolutely unthinkable. The horror show that was Queen of the South is still in the back of everyone's mind, with recent cup displays against Killie, Dundee Utd and even Queens Park also blighting Calderwood's record.

We are not firing on all cylinders in the league, and at this point don't look like catching Dundee Utd, let alone Hearts. The Cup could yet be our most realistic route into Europe. A defeat against Dunfermline is not even one for contemplation. The fans, the club, the team, and most of all Calderwood need it too much.