Latest news with #NickyDevlin
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Aberdeen looked 'sharp' in their first friendly, says Thelin
Aberdeen looked "sharp" in their first pre-season friendly, says manager Jimmy Thelin, as his side defeated League 1 Cove Rangers by two Palaversa and Nicky Devlin netted for the Dons on Saturday in their first outing since lifting the Scottish Cup in May. "It was good to have this opportunity to get everybody playing time," Thelin said."We're going to have some other games now ahead of us, and it's going to be more and more intense. "I think everybody's looking sharp. It's still early and we have things to improve on. The main thing today was how the team build up and how we helped and supported each other."We have been working on being more available on the pitch to create some relations. Their relations and the connections inside that we share the same picture on the pitch and I think the players help each other. "It's good to be back, and it's nice to see everyone. Hopefully we can create something good this season."
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Celtic lose in Lisbon, new Rangers signings play, first look at Aberdeen
How three Scottish teams fared in their latest pre-season outings Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Celtic continued their pre-season preparations with a 3-2 defeat by Estrela da Amadora in Lisbon on Saturday. Defender Kieran Tierney made his first appearance for the Hoops since his return to the club from Arsenal this summer at Benfica's training campus in Portugal, whilst Sweden winger Benjamin Nygren also got his first minutes as a Celtic player since signing from Nordsjaelland, playing the second half. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Midfielder Reo Hatate and striker Adam Idah scored the goals for the Scottish champions but looking at the bigger picture, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers told Celtic TV: 'It was a really good exercise for us. Reo Hatate was on target for Celtic. | SNS Group 'We're only a couple of weeks in and there were some good moments, some not so good, some young players getting opportunities, some players playing their first minutes of pre-season. It's another step towards where we want to get to. 'We'll get sharper. The guys have had a really heavy week, so they were maybe a wee bit leggy today. But it's that point in the season where you have to push and get through that, that's all about building your fitness. 'The guys will always look to play our game model, which is to press and to play and we did that. We had some really good moments, the goals were excellent. And then we got caught out, especially in the third goal, just pressing at the wrong moment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But all that comes with the evolution and understanding of how we play.' Rangers draw with Barnsley Rangers were also in action on Saturday as they drew 1-1 with Barnsley as part of their training camp at St George's Park. Brazilian striker Danilo put Rangers ahead in the second half, but the Tykes - who won promotion to the English Championship last season - levelled through Max Watters. Rangers head coach Russell Martin played a number of new signings, including Max Aarons, Nasser Djiga, Emmanuel Fernandez, Joe Rothwell, Thelo Aasgaard and Lyall Cameron. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Nicky Devlin scored for Aberdeen in the 2-0 win over Cove Rangers. | SNS Group Aberdeen began their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win over Cove Rangers at the Balmoral Stadium. The Scottish Cup winners of last season took the lead through midfielder Ante Palaversa in the first half and second-half substitute Nicky Devlin completed the scoring later in the match.
Daily Record
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Nicky Devlin has one word to describe wild Aberdeen season as star reveals his gutted mum missed trophy celebrations
Aberdeen won the Scottish Cup at the weekend but poor Nicky Devlin's mum missed it as she was travelling back from holiday Nicky Devlin has revealed his gutted mum missed Aberdeen 's heroic Scottish Cup success. Anne Marie has travelled the length and breadth of Scotland to watch her boy play, even taking off for Europe after the Dons embarked on continental football in Devlin's first campaign at the club. However, she missed his crowning glory as Aberdeen humbled Celtic at Hampden – because she was away on her future daughter-in-law's hen do. The right-back admits she did not even get the chance to watch it on television since she on a flight out to Tenerife when the drama was unfolding. Devlin said: 'Johnny is my wee brother, he gets married in the summer. His partner Kelsey, it was her hen weekend. 'They flew out on Saturday afternoon so she actually never knew we had won until she landed. 'She was in Tenerife so it's a four-hour flight or something like that. Even with extra-time and penalties, by the time she landed she didn't know what had happened. 'Then she looked at her phone and saw the celebrations, probably saw most of the messages and texts. 'I've spoken to her but I felt bad because she's said it as well, 'I'd love to be in Aberdeen'. 'These things don't come along very often so you have to appreciate them when they do. I tried to limit the contact because I knew the more contact she had, the worse it would be for her. 'I'm sure my dad, who was here, has probably sent her pictures.' Aberdeen's season has been a rollercoaster, which pretty much captures his own campaign – or, as Devlin describes it, 'mental'. He had the highs of a 16-game unbeaten start to claiming his first Scotland cap at home to Portugal last October. The Dons' season then collapsed and, come January, Jimmy Thelin brought in Alexander Jensen as Devlin found himself out of the team. He finally got himself back in in time for Hampden, his third start in five games, and crowned it all by lifting the trophy. Devlin said: 'It's so bizarre, the full season's just been mental. I'd admit at one point in the season, it was probably the worst I've ever felt in my career. 'In terms of not playing, it was the hardest part of my career for a couple months. But it's the same season – it's been the best part of my career so it's hard to judge. 'It's just mental, the whole season's been mad. This is how we've finished it so it's a good way to finish.' Devlin's lack of recent activity resulted in him cramped up in the showpiece and had to make way in the final minutes of normal time before he cost his team. The 31-year-old said: 'I just felt both calves screaming. 'I didn't want to almost be selfish in terms of playing on. We had someone there in Jack MacKenzie who was more than capable of coming on and probably doing better than me in that position. It was thinking about the team more than what I wanted to do.' Devlin was unselfish and it all turned out for the best as the Dons dispatched Celtic on penalties. The enormity of it all did not sink in until the following day when 100,000 descended on Aberdeen city centre for the open-top bus parade. The former Livingston man added: 'It was amazing seeing so many people here, it was incredible. 'It was weird because we were on the bus and I was happy for myself but seeing Graeme Shinnie and what it meant to him... he was there but you could see he was taking it all in. 'He saw how much it means to people. He's obviously lost a good few finals, especially against Celtic, so you could see him soak it up.' The added dimension for the Dons is they will be back in the group stage of Europe after a season out, with Devlin having got his first taste of it in 2023 against teams including Eintracht Frankfurt, HJK and PAOK. Thelin's side go into the Europa League play-off draw, set to happen on August 4, knowing that if they fail to negotiate that double-header, a six-game league phase in the Conference League beckons until December. Devlin said: 'Yes, it's mad that as well. You probably don't think about it and then it's when you go on the bus or you start talking to the boys, it's group stage now. It's equivalent of finishing third. 'That's where everyone wants to be. It makes it difficult in the league but hopefully the manager and us all will be more prepared this year. 'We'll be ready to go in the summer. The players the managers signed, most of them all have experience of playing in Europe, so it's not a new thing for anyone. 'We're in a good position because we want to go and compete. We don't want to just show up and turn up for games, we want to go and do well.'
Press and Journal
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen defender Nicky Devlin reveals why Tenerife hen weekend impacted Scottish Cup final glory
Aberdeen defender Nicky Devlin has revealed his mum missed him winning the Scottish Cup because she was at a hen weekend in Tenerife. Devoted mum Ann-Marie has attended almost every game the full-back has played from young kid to seasoned pro. However, she had already booked up for a hen weekend for Devlin's brother's fiancée before the final was confirmed. Devlin's mum was on a flight to the Canary Islands while the final against Celtic raged on at Hampden. It was only when she touched down in Tenerife and turned on her phone that the messages started arriving confirming her son was a Scottish Cup winner. For the 31-year-old lifting the trophy is reward for his parents' dedication in watching him play week in week out. The Scotland international talked to his mum via FaceTime not long after she landed. Devlin explained: 'Johnny, my wee brother, is getting married in the summer. 'His partner Kelsey, it was her hen weekend. 'They flew out on Saturday afternoon so my mum actually never knew until she landed that we had won the cup. 'She was in Tenerife and it's like a four-hour flight or something like that. 'Even with extra-time and penalties by the time she landed she didn't know what had happened. 'Then, she looked on her phone and saw the messages, texts and celebrations.' Signed by Aberdeen in summer 2023, Devlin was a regular starter forr the first 18 months of his Pittodrie career. His form led to a debut Scotland call-up and cap against Portugal in the Nations League last October. However, he struggled to get a start in recent months. The perception was that Devlin would not start the Scottish Cup final, which is why his mum went to the hen weekend. He was pitched back into the starting line-up for the final when playing on the left of a five-man defence as boss Jimmy Thelin changed formation. It was a change of position for Devlin from his normal right-back role, and he excelled. Devlin said: 'When I spoke to my mum I felt bad because she would have loved to be there (at the final). 'I don't think she thought I was going to play so that's why she went. 'If I'd been playing the last couple of months she would maybe have stayed but, it was the hen do as well. 'It was for my wee brother's partner so it's an important event. 'She's in the sun drinking wine, Aberdeen have won a cup so she'll be fine.' A decade ago, Devlin was playing for Ayr United in League One, having previously been at Dumbarton and Stenhousemuir in League Two. This season he has become a Scottish Cup winner and Scotland international. It is a journey where his parents have been there every step of the way. Devlin said: 'My parents go to every game, my mum especially. 'My dad still takes an amateur team in Glasgow from Drumchapel so he's still with them most Saturdays, 'Mum is at every game, she loves it to be fair, even the European stuff. 'They've been at everything so this (Scottish Cup) is a big reward for them as well because they spend a lot of money travelling about the same as all the supporters. 'Days like this are hopefully the reward for them. 'These things don't come along very often so you have to appreciate them when they come.' Devlin was a nailed on first team starter until the end of the January transfer window, when right-back Alexander Jensen was signed. Having started in a 2-0 loss at Hibs on January 30, Devlin had to endure two months out of the starting line-up His next start came in a 1-0 loss at St Mirren on May 3 and that extended absence was worst the defender has felt in his career. Devlin's next start would be the Scottish Cup final. He said: 'It's so bizarre as the full season's just been mental. 'I'd admit, at one point in the season, it was probably the worst I've ever felt in my career. 'In terms of not playing, it was the hardest part of my career for a couple months. 'But at the same time the Scottish Cup has been the best part of my career so it's hard to kind of judge . 'I hadn't played for a while. 'But I always thought in the back of my head, when we got through the semi-final, that the manager would probably put me in. 'Probably not in that position (left wing-back) but I always felt I might have got back in because it was the final. 'It's been a mad season which finished great.'
Press and Journal
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Scottish Cup: Three things we learned as Aberdeen are crowned winners
Aberdeen's 35-year wait to win the Scottish Cup is over. For the first time since 1990, the Dons are Scottish Cup winners after beating Celtic 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra-time. A display full of character and determination saw the Dons come from behind to force extra-time, before finding more resolve to come out on top with a perfect conversion rate of penalties in the shootout. On the day Dons Hall of Famer Brian Irvine, the spot-kick hero of 1990, celebrated his 60th birthday, it was fitting that Aberdeen should end their wait, and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers' perfect record in the competition, in the process. With this victory, which denied the Hoops a domestic treble, Aberdeen also have the added bonus of earning guaranteed group stage football in Europe next season Here's three things we learned on a stunning afternoon for the Dons. So much of the build-up to the final had focused on what would the Aberdeen manager should do differently following some morale-sapping defeats to Celtic this season. We got our answer at Hampden as the Dons boss moved away from the 4-2-3-1 formation, which he has utilised all season, to go with a 3-5-2 approach against Brendan Rodgers' side. A more cautious approach, restricting the space for Celtic to operate in, was adopted on this occasion with wing backs Nicky Devlin and Alexander Jensen dropping back to make it a back five when the Dons were out of possession. Considering he had watched his side concede 10 goals in the previous two games against the Hoops it was refreshing to see Thelin disperse with the usual approach. If nothing else the change from Thelin gave his counterpart in the Celtic dugout something different to think about. It meant the Dons would sacrifice territory and possession, which would have happened regardless of the formation, but the message was clear to their opponents – break us down if you can. For the majority of the first half it was successful too although the Dons' inability to keep possession when they had it meant forays across the halfway line were few and far between. For 38 minutes Aberdeen's containment plan worked a dream – but unfortunately luck deserted the Dons as they went behind in the cruellest of circumstances. The new-look backline had defended brilliantly with Alexander Jensen and Nicky Devlin doing a sterling job of nullifying Celtic's wide players while the central defensive trio stopped the Hoops from testing Dimitar Mitov in the Dons goal. How unlucky it should be then that it was an own goal which led to the Dons trailing in the 39th minute. Alfie Dorrington was the player who got the unfortunate final touch, and it was one he knew little about as Arne Engels' corner deflected off his shoulder and in off the post past Mitov's outstretched left hand. For on-loan Spurs centre back Dorrington, it was especially galling given he had just led a fine break with a surging solo run from defence down the left flank prior to Celtic taking the lead. Despite trailing at the break the Dons stayed in the game and did their utmost to protect their goalkeeper. But with the clock ticking down Thelin had to gamble and when he turned to his bench, the tide swung in Aberdeen's favour. There were seven minutes remaining when the equaliser came, and it super-sub Shayden Morris who was involved, as a trademark surging run down the right wing ended with his whipping in a low ball across goal. Enter Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. The Dane dived low out from his goal and tried to punch the dangerous delivery away but succeeded in somehow knocking the ball into his own net. Thelin's tactic had paid off. Stay in the game and take a chance when it comes. But the drama was far from finished there as deep into stoppage time Daizen Maeda raced through on goal. With Mitov to beat it was the Bulgarian international who came out on top as he made a crucial block to ensure the tie went to extra-time. But the Aberdeen goalkeeper was not finished there as he saved Callum McGregor's spot kick and Alistair Johnston's penalty to bring the cup back to Pittodrie for the first time in 35 years.
