ABERDEEN 1 RAITH ROVERS 0 Sunday 18 January 2026 Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Fourth Round Pittodrie Stadium Attendance: 9,525 Referee: Kevin Clancy
Aberdeen began the defence of the Scottish Cup with a workmanlike win over Raith Rovers, Jack Milne seizing the winning goal after just nine minutes.
After the Dons lost 2-0 to Rangers last Sunday, there were four changes to the team, Graeme Shinnie, Jesper Karlsson and Marko Lazetic on the bench, with Mats Knoester out injured. In came Stuart Armstrong, Topi Keskinen, Kevin Nisbet and now loan signing Lyall Cameron, making his Dons debut. Rodrigo Vitols and Mitchel Frame were on the bench in place of Nick Suman and Alexander Jensen.
Raith lost 3-2 at home to Arbroath last Saturday, and make one change, with Josh Mullin replacing Paul McMullan.
It was a busy start from the home side, winning a first minute corner, then piecing together another good move that saw Nicky Devlin jab a shot just over the bar from 16 yards on three minutes.
The Dons had the goal they deserved after nine minutes, and it was, at last, a first Aberdeen goal for Jack Milne. Cameron speared a corner into the near post, Polvara flicking the ball on across goal. Milne got up higher than the keeper, his header ricocheting off Rae, back onto Milne and rebounding in. In spite of a very lengthy VAR check, Aberdeen were in front.
Raith were nearly in on 14 following a real scramble in the box, Devlin making a diving header back to the goalkeeper that fell short. Polvara had to try to manufacture a backheel to Mitov from there, and eventually the Dons had it away, if unconvincingly. The Dons were straight back up the other end to win a corner, Polvara glancing a header just wide from Cameron’s delivery.
There was more chaos in the Aberdeen box on 17 as Dimitar Mitov passed to Clarkson who returned the favour with a looping pass that went over his goalkeeper, Mitov running back to awkwardly hook the ball of the line. The visitors had certainly steadied the ship after conceding early on.
A good interception from Polvara had Keskinen on the run on 26, but his shot was deflected behind. The corner was cleared, Gyamfi getting himself in a tangle with Easton and being booked for pulling him down 30 yards from the Raith goal.
Cameron’s probing pass into the box was half cleared in the 35th minute but Keskinen was onto it, drilling his effort into the side netting.
Devlin played a real captain’s innings on 43, making an incredible block to take a full blooded drive on the thigh from five yards out as Mullin ran onto Mitov’s punch clear from a Raith corner.
Keskinen tried his luck in added time, a low drive from the corner of the box pouched by Rae at his near post.
HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 1 RAITH ROVERS 0
With the rain continuing to hose down, Mitchel Frame came on his for his Aberdeen debut at the break, replacing Gyamfi.
A low ball in from Devlin in the first minute of the second half caused panic in the Raith ranks, Wilson getting a touch on it at full stretch before thumping into the near post and away. Polvara was booked almost immediately afterwards for a late challenge on Brown.
Karlsson and Shinnie came on for Milanovic and Armstrong in the 57th minute. The substitutes almost combined for a goal within a minute. Nisbet was fed through by Keskinen but rather than squaring for the captain, he tried a shot that Rae saved. Shinnie was onto the rebound and played it back to Nisbet who this time picked out Karlsson ten yards out. He took a touch, allowing Rovers defenders to get back and block his shot.
The Dons were turning up the wick now though, Clarkson having another shot deflected behind on 67. Rovers made their first changes two minutes later with Easton and Winter coming on for McMullan and Montagu.
It could have been a second goal for Milne in the 70th minute, Cameron’s corner heading for the back post. Milne was unsighted but made contact, sending the ball back across goal and just wide. Aouchiche replaced Clarkson in the 75th minute, Rowe making way for Matthews for Raith at the same time.
Brown was finally booked in the 79th minute for a foul on Keskinen, after a string of similar offences through the game. Mullin and Hamilton came off for Vaughan and Nsio in the 81st minute as Raith made their last throw of the dice. Sivert Heltne Nilsen was Aberdeen’s last switch, Cameron’s impressive debut ending in the 85th minute.
Rovers had their chance within seconds, Vaughan’s cross flicked on by Montagu, but with a free header, Doherty couldn’t make the most of it, heading wide as he stretched for the ball.
Keskinen might have sealed it in the final minute, racing away on the counter to collect a ball from Aouchiche, but Rae was down to block at the near post.
Rovers had one last chance to load the box in the 92nd minute when they won a free-kick on halfway, Rae lofting the ball forwards, but Heltne Nilsen was there to smack the ball forwards. From there, Nisbet was played in by Aouchiche. He rolled the bath into Karlsson’s pass, Rae making a good save at the near post. But with the ball 100 yards away from harm’s way, the job was done.
Aberdeen: Mitov, Devlin, Polvara, Milne, Gyamfi (Frame 46), Clarkson (Aouchiche 75), Cameron (Heltne Nilsen 85), Armstrong (Shinnie 57), Keskinen, Milanovic (Karlsson 57), Nisbet.
Subs not used: Vitols, Bilalovic, Lobban, Lazetic.
Goal: Milne (9)
Booked: Gyamfi, Polvara
Raith Rovers: Rae, Rowe (Matthews 75), O’Connor, Hanlon, Wilson, Doherty, Brown, Mullin (Vaughan 81), Winter (Montagu 69), Easton (McMullan 69), Hamilton (Nsio 81).
Subs not used: Glavin, Gibson, Hannah, Raeside.
Booked: Brown
