CALDO: MY NERVOUS PLODDERS LOST PLOT; THE Homecoming Scotland SCOTTISH CUP.

Byline: CHRIS GALLAGHER reports

ALLOA 1

ABERDEEN 2

RELIEVED Jimmy Calderwood admits he feared another Aberdeen cup calamity because Alloa's shock equaliser made his jittery stars lose the plot.

Dismal Dons were outplayed for long spells by Allan Maitland's brave part-timers in a pulsating clash.

Sone Aluko's 55th-minute winner finally spared Aberdeen's blushes as they scraped into the fifth round.

But manager Caldo, still reeling from humiliating exits to Queen's Park and Queen of the South in recent years, feared the worst when an Andy Scott spot-kick wiped out Lee Miller's opener.

He said: "I've never seen a penalty given for that, it happens in hundreds of games. We started really well then stopped playing. It deserved to be all square at half time.

"I was worried when it was 1-1 because we really lost the plot. Our good players simply stopped playing. I'm just glad to be in the next round."

Charlie Mulgrew almost put the visitors ahead in three minutes with a trademark 25-yard free-kick that Ray Jellema parried clear.

Wasps didn't heed the early warning and fell behind in nine minutes, Miller diverting Chris Maguire's shot into the net from 12 yards.

The SPL side were almost out of sight soon after as Aluko saw his effort cleared off the line by Dougie Hill. Alloa kept at it though and Brown Ferguson's long-range attempt in 22 minutes was well gathered by Jamie Langfield.

Dons were making heavy weather of putting the Division Two strugglers away and paid the price just before the break.

Alloa looked to have scored when Hill slammed a cross into the net. But ref Steven Nicholls ruled Miller had fouled the Wasps star seconds earlier and awarded a penalty instead.

In the protests that followed Dons skipper Scott Severin was booked butMiller, who seemingly denied giving Hill a clear scoring opportunity, escaped without punishment.

Scott slotted home the spot-kick and became the first Alloa player to score against Dons in 105 years when, ironically, they dumped them out of the Scottish Cup.

But just as Caldo's men began to panic Aluko rescued them in 55 minutes, racing on to Langfield's long punt and slipping the ball past Jellema from 18 yards.

Dons survived a mighty scare in 66 minutes when Ferguson's cutback was just missed by Scott as he homed in on Langfield's goal.

The keeper then fumbled a corner into the path of Ferguson who blazed over from 10 yards.

Dons sub Darren Mackie should have made the result safe with 15 minutes left but somehow hit the bar from two yards following Maguire's cutback.

Wasps continued pushing for the equaliser and Scott's cross was headed just over by sub Andy Ferguson.

The same player missed an even bigger sitter in 85 minutes, nodding wide from point-blank range.

Boss Maitland hailed his side and said: "I'm proud of the lads.

"Aberdeen didn't create much and we didn't deserve to lose. The effort from our boys was excellent."

REF WATCH

STEVEN NICHOLLS was a bit fussy and too quick to book Alloa players - all of the Second Division side's back four copped yellows. Also bottled a massive decision when he should have sent off Dons star Lee Miller for conceding penalty. Rating: 5/10.

CAPTION(S):

Sone one so true: Sure-shot Sone Aluko slides home the Aberdeen clincher while striker Lee Miller is mobbed by his team-mates after netting the opener for Jimmy Calderwood's side; Handy Andy: Scott keeps his cool to slot home the leveller for Alloa from the penalty spot