Jubilant Neil Lennon last night celebrated putting Dunfermline Athletic on the map once more by reaching the Scottish Cup semi-finals and bringing sexy football back to the Pars.
The former Celtic and Hibs boss oversaw a resounding 3-0 win over Aberdeen at East End Park and admitted the display from his team – which takes the Fifers to their first last-four appearance since 2009 – was beyond his wildest dreams.
The Dunfermline boss said: ‘It’s a magnificent achievement and a magnificent performance against a highly-motivated Aberdeen team. It’s beyond my expectations.
‘I thought we were a good side, but they excelled and now we’re going to Hampden, which is incredible. It’s something to savour. It puts the club back on the map in Scottish football, which is what we want to do.
‘I’ve got a very talented young squad who, when they’re good, they’re very, very good. It’s a big night for me personally.
‘I’ve been dreaming about this game for a few weeks and thinking: ‘God, could we get to Hampden?’. It’s very, very special for me on a professional and a personal level.
Neil Lennon was proud of his side as Dunfermline thumped Aberdeen 3-0 at East End Park
The Dunfermline players celebrate reaching the last four of the Scottish Cup
‘It’s because I’m doing it with Dunfermline, you know, who were on their uppers last season.
‘Our football was swashbuckling and, on the counter-attack, we were devastating.
‘Of course, the opportunity to go to Hampden, it’s sexy. It’s good for the players and the fans have got something palpable to look forward to.
‘I didn’t want to give too much away but I watched Aberdeen three or four times and thought we could match them, especially at home.
“Their away form hasn’t been great of late and I thought we could capitalise on that. And we certainly did.
‘The players looked like men out there today, even though a lot of them are young players. They played like men.
‘I really got excited about watching us play tonight.
‘I didn’t want to just be in the quarter-final and go out. I wanted to go to Hampden and now I’m greedy. I want to go to the final.’
Meanwhile, Aberdeen’s furious interim manager Peter Leven has warned his gutless flops that they are in serious danger of ending up in a relegation battle in the Premiership unless they get their act together.
The Dons have lost six in eight, with only one win, and are eight points clear of second-bottom Kilmarnock.
Asked if there were concerns about being dragged into a relegation scrap, Leven replied: ‘100 per cent. I just said that to them.
‘I said that we cannot go on like this. I can’t protect them any more. They have to stand up and be counted.
‘I hope I have the characters because there is no transfer window.
‘We are the holders and we have limped out of the Scottish Cup. It is unacceptable. I can take losing, but, after going 1-0 down, the fight was gone and that is so disappointing.
Gavin Molloy is in disbelief as the holders crashed out tamely in Fife
‘It was shocking. We actually started OK and had a chance through Stuart Armstrong, but I can’t defend the players any more.
‘That is unacceptable. I apologise to the fans.
‘We are in trouble. We’re in serious trouble. We are not picking up wins, we are not picking up points and we are out of the Scottish Cup.
‘There were so many experienced players out there and we never won the first ball, second ball. There was a lack of fight and a lack of confidence. It was really poor.’
