Aberdeen 2-0 Bonnyrigg Rose: Neil Warnock wins on home debut

Bojan Miovski’s double ensured their was no slip-up in Neil Warnock’s first home game in charge as Aberdeen dispatched Bonnyrigg Rose to progress to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

But the Premiership side’s class, spearheaded by the 24-year-old, shone through and they were able to withstand flurries of Rose attacks.

Aberdeen are into the last eight for the first time in three years as interim boss Warnock attempts to win his maiden trophy in a long managerial career.

Despite the gulf in status, it was Bonnyrigg who started the brighter, much to the delight of the raucous away support.

However, they were silenced by one of the most in-form players in the country. In a tidy move, Shayden Morris fed an assist through Reis Peggie’s legs, which Miovski elegantly put away.

Rose heads did not drop, although perhaps if Smart Osadolar raised his a little more, he would have spotted the space in goal he had to pick out. Getting on the end of Ross Gray’s clever cutback, the striker shot directly at Nicky Devlin who pulled off a rather straightforward goalline clearance.

If only the journeyman had picked a corner, then who knows what might have occurred.

Instead, what did was predictable. Miovski made it two with tremendous technique to convert Dante Polvara’s neat knockdown.

Not for the first time this season, it could be asked where would Aberdeen be without Miovski? Outside of his double, the Dons offered very little, with Martin fleetingly troubled in goals.

Still, though, Miovski’s wait for a first senior hat-trick goes on. He came closest with a free-kick that appeared to be going wide, but Martin tipped round the post just to be certain.

In the opposite goal, Kelle Roos was dropped in place of Ross Doohan, who in the second half was forced into a powerful punch from Gray’s fizzed strike.

Player of the match – Bojan Miovski

What they said

Interim Aberdeen manager Neil Warnock: “I thought the fans were super. It was a cold day but, as I said to the lads, these kind of cup games you’ve just got to get through and into the hat.

“If we play like we did today, we’ll probably get knocked out [in the next round. I wasn’t overly enamoured by our performances, but we did get through and I hope whoever we get in the next round we’ll give them a good game.”

Bonnyrigg Rose manager Robbie Horn: “I’m incredibly proud as the manager. The performance of the players, the ovation from the Bonnyrigg supporters and then to be clapped off by Aberdeen supporters was very special.

“It shows that the team put so much into that game, showing character and bravery. We’ve got to take confidence from the performance today.”