Aberdeen manager Barry Robson claimed it was a case of job done after his side booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Viaplay Cup with a 2-1 win over Stirling.
The Dons boss alluded to last season’s embarrassing Scottish Cup defeat against non-league Darvel when insisting the main objective had been progressing in the tournament.
But the Pittodrie outfit were made to battle hard for the victory after Greig Spence’s late strike for Stirling set up a grandstand finish – just when Aberdeen looked comfortable following goals either side of the break from Bojan Miovski and Leighton Clarkson.
With attention now turning to Thursday’s Europa League play-off against Swedish outfit Hacken, Robson said: “I knew how difficult it would be and we let the players know that.
“This club’s had a few bad results over the last couple of years and we didn’t want that to happen again.
“But we managed to come here and win the game. I’m just glad we dealt with it.
“Credit to Stirling, they’ve been in great form and we knew they would bring everything to the game and they put on a really good show. They should be proud of how they played.
“But my main aim was to get through. It was about playing a strong team and winning.
“The players showed a good mentality as cup football is always tough. People wanted to see an upset and rightly so, that’s the magic of the cup.
“But we are through and now we focus on Thursday night.”
He added: “I have five reports on Hacken and I will watch three live games. I have had scouts over in Sweden watching them and getting every detail.
“We need to know what they are all about and we will. They are a good side, it will be difficult and let’s go and see what we can do there.
“Credit to all the Scottish clubs for performing well in Europe this week and hopefully we can do the same.
“We are trying to build something here and we will prepare well this week.”
Stirling Albion manager Darren Young insisted his side should have had a late penalty when Ross Davidson was taken out after shooting over the crossbar in the 90th minute.
But he was proud of the way his League One team pushed their Premiership visitors all the way in a narrow defeat.
He said: “It was a stonewaller. I think if it was outside the box, he (referee David Munro) would probably have given it.
“He (Davidson) has got the shot away and he’s taken him out – he’s absolutely nowhere near the ball.
“I’ve seen penalties given for it and obviously tonight we’ve seen it not given. These things happen.
“I think we were in the ascendancy in the last 10, 15 minutes. We were pressing, we were pushing and we were very unlucky not to get an equaliser.
“There’s loads to take from the game. We pushed a full-time team and they’re going to play in Europe on Thursday night, and we pushed them all the way.”
Hurtig the hero after late goal sends Arsenal into Champions League quarters
Lina Hurtig's 89th minute winner ensured Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the Women's Champions League after edging Juventus 1-0 on Thursday.
After being frustrated for large parts of the encounter, Hurtig bundled home from close range after Martina Lenzini's poor clearance to book the Gunners' place in the last eight.
Despite Arsenal dominating the early exchanges, it was Juventus who had the first sight of goal, though Eva Schatzer's effort was easy for Daphne van Domselaar to gather.
In a first half that saw just two shots on target, both coming from the visitors, Renee Slegers' substitutes proved to be the difference for Arsenal.
Slegers introduced Beth Mead, Stina Blackstenius and Hurtig late on, with the latter somehow putting Kim Little's cross over the bar from five yards out.
However, the Swede would atone for her earlier error, combining with fellow substitute Blackstenius to net against her former club and send them out of the competition with two group games remaining.
Meanwhile, in Group D, Barcelona edged closer to the quarter-finals of the competition with a convincing 4-1 victory over St. Polten at the Generali Arena.
The reigning champions are still three points behind Manchester City following their 2-1 win over Hammarby, and know a win against the Swedes next month will see them progress.
Kika Nazareth opened the scoring in the 20th minute after capitalising on a mistake by Kamila Dubcova, notching her second nine minutes later from close range.
Barca found themselves three goals up at the break when Vicky Lopez netted her first goal in the competition to put the result beyond doubt.
There was also a landmark moment for Alexia Putellas, who netted her 200th goal for the club with a well-taken effort into the far corner.
Valentina Madl took some of the shine off an otherwise impressive display from the visitors, who have now taken their tally to 20 goals from their four matches in the competition.
Guardiola agrees two-year contract extension with Man City
Pep Guardiola will be Manchester City manager for at least two more seasons after 2024-25, after he signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday.
The 53-year-old was coming to the end of his City deal, which was due to expire at the end of the current campaign, but he has opted to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
The deal itself will take Guardiola's tenure at the club to over a decade, making him City's longest-serving manager since Les McDowall in 1963.
There had been suggestions that he may leave at the end of the season following the announcement that director of football Txiki Begiristain was on his way out.
Guardiola was strongly linked with the England job after Gareth Southgate resigned in the wake of their Euro 2024 final defeat, but the Football Association appointed Thomas Tuchel last month.
“Manchester City means so much to me," Guardiola said. “This is my ninth season here; we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club.
“That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.
“Thank you to everyone for continuing to trust and support me – The Owner, The Chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and, of course, the fans… everyone connected to Manchester City. It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here.
“I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much.
“Hopefully, now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”
Having been appointed in 2016, Guardiola is by some distance Manchester City's most successful manager of all time, having won 18 major trophies during his time at the club.
That list includes their first-ever Champions League triumph in 2023 and six Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four on the spin.
He also boasts a 72.04% win percentage across all competitions, which is unsurprisingly the highest of any full-time City manager in history.
Shaw at the double as Man City progress in Champions League
Khadija Shaw scored twice as Manchester City beat Hammarby 2-1 to seal their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals.
Gareth Taylor's team entered Thursday's game with a perfect record in Group D, and their fourth win in as many European matches ensured they finished in the top two.
Shaw—the leading scorer in the Women's Super League this season with eight goals—put them ahead in the 31st minute, driving into the area after taking in Yui Hasegawa's pass before seeing her shot deflect into the top corner.
Shaw was booked for celebrating in front of the home fans despite appearing to have objects thrown at her from the stands, and Hammarby should have levelled when Julia Blakstad fired wide 10 minutes later.
The hosts did draw level three minutes into the second half as Ellen Wangerheim tapped home while City's Laura Blindkilde Brown was down appealing for a free-kick.
That parity was short-lived, though, as Shaw blasted into the top corner from 25 yards out, taking her overall tally for this season to 12 goals in all competitions.
In Group C, meanwhile, Bayern Munich lost their perfect record as they played out a 1-1 draw with Valerenga, boosting Arsenal's hopes of topping the pile.
Jovana Damnjanovic came off the bench to put Bayern ahead 15 minutes from time in Norway, but Elise Thorsnes headed home following an 88th-minute corner to snatch a point for the hosts.
Arsenal could now move within a point of Bayern when they face Juventus in Group C's other match later on Thursday.
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