Preview: Aberdeen vs. Dundee United - prediction, team news, lineups

Aberdeen host Dundee United in the Scottish Cup on Sunday, attempting to reach the semi-final for the fifth year in a row.

Both teams have little to play for in the league with three games to go, so will have their sights on winning the Scottish Cup to enter the Europa League next season.

Match preview

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Aberdeen reached the quarter-final having scraped past Dumbarton and Livingston in the previous rounds.

The Dons equalised in both normal time and then extra time in last Saturday's fourth-round tie against Livingston forcing penalties, where Ross McCrorie successfully converted Aberdeen's fifth spot kick to win 5-3 in the shootout.

Aberdeen came very close to beating Celtic for the first time in their last 13 attempts in midweek, but were denied by a stoppage-time equaliser from Leigh Griffiths cancelling out Lewis Ferguson's first-half finish.

Wednesday night's draw makes it four games unbeaten after three wins since the appointment of Stephen Glass as manager, although he was in quarantine for the first two wins.

Aberdeen's previous defeat came against this weekend's opponents Dundee United, who won 1-0 at home through an Adrian Sporle goal.

The sides have met each other three times this season in the league, with the other two encounters ending in goalless draws.

After beating the Dons, Dundee United won their next three games, extending their unbeaten run to six matches.

Two of those wins came against Scottish League One opponents Partick Thistle and Forfar Athletic in the previous rounds of the cup.

The Tangerines' unbeaten run came to an end on Wednesday night, losing 3-0 to relegation-threatened Kilmarnock courtesy of a first-half Kyle Lafferty hat-trick.

However, Micky Mellon's side had already mathematically secured safety going into the midweek game, meaning their sights are most likely set on this weekend's clash as they look to reach the semi-final for the first time in five years.

It will certainly be a tough ask for the away side, despite being three games unbeaten in the fixture, as Aberdeen have lost only one in their last 12 home games against Dundee.

It is likely to be a very low scoring game, as there has only been one game in their last nine registering more than two goals.

Team News

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Aberdeen will be without midfielder Greg Leigh, who will remain sidelined due to a hamstring injury, while winger Ryan Hedges is ruled out for the rest of the season with a muscle injury.

Stephen Glass announced positive news regarding defender Ash Taylor, who is very close to a return and will be monitored before Sunday's game, as well as first-choice keeper Joe Lewis, who missed the Celtic game due to bruised ribs.

Despite being replaced by Calvin Ramsay after 15 minutes through an ankle injury on Wednesday, Ross McCrorie is believed to have recovered and is likely to start as right-back this weekend.

The visitors will be hoping first-choice keeper Benjamin Siegrist will return from his minor hand injury which has ruled him out of the last two games, with Deniz Mehmet replacing him.

Micky Mellon had one eye on the cup as he made seven changes to his side on Wednesday night, with his first-choice players very likely to return to the side on Sunday.

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Lewis; McCrorie, Hoban, Considine, Hayes; McLennan, Ferguson, Campbell, Kennedy; McGinn; Kamberi

Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Mehmet; Smith, Edwards, Reynolds, Robson; Fuchs, Butcher, Sprole; Clark; Shankland, McNulty

We say: Aberdeen 1-0 Dundee United

Aberdeen have looked in good form under new manager Glass and host a very good home record in their previous matches against Dundee United. However, it is unlikely that there will be many goals, as there has not been more than two goals in Aberdeen's last seven Scottish Cup matches.