For everyone associated with Aberdeen, the next 10 days will be spent clinging to an old wisdom. That it somehow will be all right on the night.
After playing their way out of a mid-season slump, Jimmy Thelin’s side have ground to a halt at the worst possible moment.
On the back of two dismal displays on the road at Paisley and Ibrox, a return to their spiritual home brought absolutely no comfort.
While the enduring beauty of Scottish Cup Finals is that anything can happen, on this evidence, the Dons are going to have to produce something extraordinary if they’re to rip the trophy from Celtic’s grasp.
This comprehensive loss extended Aberdeen’s winless streak against the Parkhead men to 30 matches across seven years.
Before the big day at Hampden, Thelin’s job will be less that of a football coach and more that of a psychologist. He’s got a heck job on his hands to convince his players that they can pull it off.
Celtic’s Maik Nawrocki (centre) celebrates scoring his side’s first goal against Aberdeen
Celtic’s Hyunjun Yang restored the visitors’ lead after Kevin Nisbet had equalised
In the second half, Luke McCowan (left) made it 3-1 with the Dons unable to reply
After briefly looking like they might just give Celtic a game, they fell apart early in the second half with the manner of the defeat eventually demoralising.
Defend like this come May 24 and the Dons will require a miracle to lift the trophy for the first time since 1990.
Having allowed Maik Nawrocki to bully them at a corner as Celtic went in front, they rallied, levelled through Kevin Nisbet only to be easily undone again as Yang Hyun-jun netted the visitors’ second in first half stoppage time.
Their defending as Celtic cut them apart at will in the second half, scoring another three, was alarming.
The fact that European qualification was secured due to St Mirren’s failure to beat Hibs was scant consolation.
Right now, Celtic just look too strong and too determined to let the chance of a sixth Treble in nine years slip through their fingers.
As against Hibs last weekend, Brendan Rodgers’ much-changed side demonstrated that their focus is unwavering despite a fourth successive title having been chalked up.
Ominously for the Dons, they have the momentum of a juggernaut with players now appearing from nowhere to state a case for inclusion.
Young striker Johnny Kenny finally got on the scoresheet to grab Celtic’s fourth goal
Rodgers had hinted he’d shake things up, but the scale of the changes was eye-catching. Only three players – Auston Trusty, Callum McGregor and Anthony Ralston – retained their spots.
What an opportunity this was for Johnny Kenny, the young Irish striker who’s effectively coming to the end of 16-month season following his loan back to Shamrock Rovers. He did his cause no harm, getting his Celtic goal account up and running.
Despite there being little at stake, this was no holds barred stuff. In for a rare start, Yang was scythed down by Alfie Dorrington inside two minutes with referee Steven MacLean left with no option but to produce a yellow card.
Yang then spurned a fine chance when his header from Ralston’s cross landed in the Red Shed.
The winger swapped flanks with his pace eliminating Graeme Shinnie. Paulo Bernardo’s shot was saved by Dimitar Mitov after an initial fumble.
When Shayden Morris burst away from Jeffrey Schlupp, Pape Gueye screamed for cross. His header lacked any conviction.
It was an open affair. Seconds after Bernardo blazed over at one end, Topi Keskinen saw his strike deflected for what should have been a corner.
Trademark trickery by Forrest down the right presented Yang with another chance with his head. Mitov caught that one.
Forrest’s search for the goal which would see him netting for the 16th successive season looked set to end when the ball broke to him at the far post. A scuffed shot went the wrong side of the upright.
Celtic were beginning to find their rhythm. The opener arrived just after the half hour, the manner of it infuriating from Thelin’s perspective.
McCowan’s corner dropped invitingly on the six-yard line. Keskinen didn’t do enough to keep Nawrocki at bay. The Pole thumped his header into the turf to leave Mitov with no chance. It was quite the time to get his first Celtic goal.
Keskinen would redeem himself before the half was out. An enterprising advance down the left bought him the space to cross. Gueye helped it on. Nisbet got just enough purchase on his header to take it out of the reach of Viljami Sinisalo.
Kenny thought he’d reestablished his side’s lead just before the interval with a flashing near post header. Alexander Jensen produced a goal line block.
Celtic struck again deep into added time. Forrest bobbed and weaved down the right. His cross struck Mitov then Jensen and came to a full stop in front of Yang. The winger lashed the ball home.
Forrest was again outstanding here, doing everything but scoring. He was instrumental in the third. It was a brilliant team goal involving Trusty, McGregor and Ralston with Forrest picking up the pace by taking Shinnie out of the game with a burst.
His cut-back found Luke McCowan unmarked. After two touches, the midfielder fired high into the net.
Six minutes later, it was four. McCowan turned provider by showing down the left and crossing. Kenny was on his toes to score with a flying header.
A miserable night for the Dons was compounded by a second booking for Dorrington which saw him take the long walk.
Adam Idah climbed off the bench to complete the scoring with close range finish. Right now, Celtic simply look unstoppable.
