Scottish Cup defeat as painful as relegation, admits Aberdeen keeper Derek Soutar

Apr 13 2008 By Gavin Berry

DEVASTATED Derek Soutar insisted his Hampden hell was the lowest he'd felt since suffering relegation from the SPL with Dundee three years ago.

The Aberdeen keeper had to pick the ball out the net four times against Queen of the South and took the blame for the First Division side's opener.

After that he didn't get much protection from his defence as Dons missed out on a chance to return to Europe.

Soutar said: "The last time I felt such disappointment was relegation with Dundee when we went down on the last day of the season at Livingston.

"I'm sure you can imagine the mood after the game. I can't really put into words how we feel. It's gut-wrenching really. I don't think we'll get a better chance in a cup semi-final

"It's not a nice feeling but you have to try to learn from these experiences. The first was my fault and I put my hands up.

"I should have just punched it because even if I had caught it, with the way Sean O'Connor was in front of me, I'd have brought it down on top of him anyway.

"I should have just two-fisted it away and hoped someone else would clear it but I'll learn from that and get on with it. It was a great occasion to play at Hampden and we've got to pick ourselves up.

"The manager was disappointed and angry with the performance but you've got to give credit to Queen of the South who came out full of confidence.

"It's one of those things, the romance of the Cup as they say. We've got to pick ourselves up."

Soutar knows players' futures are on the line in the remaining weeks of the season as Jimmy Calderwood could wield the axe.

He said: "Some boys are playing for contracts and the gaffer has to make plans for next season so the boys who are still here and those out of contract are playing for our futures."

Soutar hopes the dodgy defence don't feel all the heat for the defeat.

He said: "You can't just point the finger at the central defence, it's a team game. Things were open all over the park and we were chasing the game.

"Sean O'Connor and John Stewart for them did well up front, holding the ball up. But you can't just look at me or the central defence because you have to defend as a unit.

"With us going behind all the time and chasing, it was a really open match.

"I played a fortnight ago when we beat Inverness 4-3 in the league and that was similar but the stakes weren't as high.

"When they went 3-2 up I thought, 'Oh no' but at 3-3 I had a wee smile because I thought we'd kick on from that but they defended well and we didn't create too many clear-cut chances."