Four games’ worth of stick from Aberdeen fans, four goals conceded in the last semi-final between the two teams, and four games without scoring against the Dons.
There are plenty of reasons why a Scottish Cup semi-final victory at the weekend would be one to savour for Stevie May.
The St Johnstone striker had to endure being mocked by the Red Army in February as he and his team failed to find the net against their ruthless opponents at a packed Tynecastle, but May is hoping to have the last laugh at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon.
“I think most fans dislike me for some reason or another but especially them,” May said.
“You kind of ignore it but, in the end, it would make it that bit sweeter if we were able to turn them over in the semi-final.
“I think at 1-0 in the League Cup semi it wasn’t that noticeable. At 4-0, it was a bit harder to ignore. But I would never let something like that affect me in a negative way. If anything, it spurs me on to do well.
“I know Stevie MacLean was getting pelters in the stand, I think there was even a bit of bother near where the players were.
“You don’t really hear too much of it when you’re playing, your mind is just focused on the game in hand.
“Why do they dislike me? They must not like my hair! I’ve had it cut though, so they might take a fancy to me now!”
May revealed that he has had another bogey team, but he eventually put that right. Now he’s aiming to repeat the trick.
He explained: “I know the Aberdeen fans have made a bit out of me not scoring against them this season and it was similar last year, when I was at Hamilton, because Partick Thistle were the team I couldn’t find the net against.
“They gave me a bit this season, but eventually I managed to score the last time we played against them. It makes it all that much better when you do something like that. It would be great.
“Having said that, I don’t care if one of the Aberdeen players kicks it in, as long as the ball goes in their net and we get to the final.I don’t care if it takes penalties, or whatever.
“It’s all about performing on the day. We need to give it everything and get the wee bit of luck you need to win a cup.
“As a team, we are confident that we can get to the final.”
Saints were second favourites for the League Cup semi, even when Aberdeen had a last-four hoodoo of their own hanging over them.
So now that the Dons have got a trophy in the cabinet, pre-match predictions outside Perth are even more weighted in favour of their opponents. And that’s just how May likes it.
He pointed out: “The build-up has been good so far. It’s been something we’ve had in the back of our minds for some time now, so we’re glad it’s here. We’re all ready to go.
“We definitely get the impression of being outsiders. You can see from previous fixtures all season that Aberdeen have got the better of us.
“We’re underdogs but we’d rather be that, because it means we’re not under pressure. All the pressure is heaped on Aberdeen, especially after they’ve won a cup and they’re favourites not just to beat us but to win another.
“Everyone is saying they’ve beaten us four times this season. I think that could even work in our favour. There is less expectation on us than there was in February, definitely.
“The League Cup is massive but the Scottish Cup is that much bigger, the one everyone wants. Despite being underdogs, we still fancy our chances.”
These St Johnstone players are living through a golden period for the club. Top six football has become habitual, and there have been big European nights at McDiarmid Park.
Nobody needs to be reminded about what has been missing though.
“For the club, getting to a final is the next big step,” May admitted.
“We’ve done everything else, gone into Europe, consistently finished in the top six.
“But we’ve struggled to get past this barrier. We seem to get to the semi-finals easily enough every season, whether it’s the League Cup or Scottish Cup, only to fall at the last hurdle.
“If it’s going to be any season that we get through and go on to win the cup, it might as well be this season. The boys are all buzzing for the game, definitely.
“There was massive disappointment after the last semi loss, although we had another agenda after that game we had to go and finish top six.
“We had that in our heads, as well as looking forward to this cup. We managed to finish in the top six, a massive thing for this club, especially as it’s the third year in a row.
“No we just want to get to a final, and if we get there we will fancy our chances again. This is the biggest game of my career, you could definitely say that.”