Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Cup won’t define season for Dons
DEREK McInnes i s fully aware t he William Hill Scottish Cup offers a major chance for success but refuses to accept tonight’s replay against Kilmarnock could define their entire season.
The Dons travel to Rugby Pa r k to face in-form Kilmarnock in the quarterfinal replay after the two sides drew 1-1 at Pittodrie earlier in the month, with a meeting against Motherwell at Hampden the prize on offer.
Success in the cup has been high on the list of priorities all season for McInnes, whose side lost to Motherwell in the Betfred Cup last eight.
The Dons are without a win in their last four games, which has seen them drop to five points off secondplaced Rangers i n t he league, a spot Aberdeen have held on to for three consecutive seasons.
McInnes still has ambitions on several fronts and doesn’t reckon Aberdeen’s campaign rests on continuing their cup run.
“It gives us a real opportunity to have a really successful campaign, as it will for Kilmarnock and anybody left in the cup,” McInnes said.
“We said at the start of the competition it’s one we will set out to try to win, regardless of who we’re up against and we still see that.
“We are sitting third in the league and we are used to being better than that, but there’s still a lot of points to be gained in the league.
“It’s not season defining but, for the perception of it, it will help us with our league form if we can win.”