Aberdeen had no creative spark in Saturday’s game at Tynecastle.
In fact, it wasn’t until Gary Mackay-Steven and Adam Rooney were thrown on towards the end of the game that Derek McInnes’ men looked like breaking down the Hearts rearguard.
If a team is defending compactly with five at the back, there’s very little space and, as a result, it takes quick, inventive play to create chances.
When Hearts scored two quick goals early on, given their defensive tactics, things looked very difficult for Aberdeen.
I still think the Dons had enough of the ball in the first half to hit back, but they did very little with it.
Credit to Craig Levein’s side for their part in restricting the Reds’ threat, you can see why they’ve got an excellent record at Tynecastle and are unbeaten their since moving back to the ground in November after redevelopment work on the main stand.
Hearts were the better side and deserved the result for their discipline and being defensively sound.
The worrying thing for Dons fans is that the Jambos were able to score their goals without attacking particularly well.
Aberdeen just didn’t have an answer to their style.
However, the Red Army can take some comfort in the fact the significance of beating Rangers to second in the Premiership has been slightly overplayed.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s semi-final with Motherwell – the league in a way is a false race, we’re talking second place after all, not first.
But Saturday’s game can get the Reds into a Scottish Cup final.
The opportunity to lift a trophy is the most important thing in Aberdeen’s calendar nowadays.
It would be great for McInnes and every else at the club to make the statement of finishing second in the Premiership for the fourth year in a row, particularly this season with Rangers, Hibs and Hearts all now back in the top division.
But it still should be less significant than Saturday and the chance to set up a date at Hampden against either the Gers or Celtic to play for some silverware.
McInnes’ side got a taste for it last year in their final loss to the Hoops.
I think, when we look back, it’s the semi-final and then, hopefully, the final, which will define this season for the Pittodrie men.
If they don’t add to the league cup triumph in 2014, the only trophy of McInnes’ reign, that will be a big disappointment.
The feeling is that’s Derek’s big target – he’s been talking about it in those terms since the turn of the year.
The Scottish Cup is Aberdeen’s opportunity to have this campaign remembered as a magnificent one, and their task continues on Saturday.
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