The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Mcinnes looks to kick on from win in cup
Manager Derek Mcinnes thinks Aberdeen’s cup quarterfinal win over Kilmarnock on Tuesday can galvanise his side .
The Dons beat Kilmarnock on penalties to reach next month’s semi-finals, where Motherwell stand between Mcinnes’ men and a place in the final against Celtic or Rangers.
He said: “Motherwell, like Kilmarnock, have the experience of reaching a cup final this season and will fancy their chances like Kilmarnock did but we’ll face that challenge when it comes.”
Aberdeen had to dig deep to beat a Killie side which was backed by a fervent support at Rugby Park, and Mcinnes believes the penalty win can galvanise his side’s campaign.
The Dons have hit the buffers in the league recently following two defeats and a draw to slip to third place in the Premiership, and Mcinnes hopes Tuesday’s cup win can be a launching pad for a renewed push for second spot in the final nine league games of the campaign.
“Sometimes a club needs a big result and beating Kilmarnock felt like one,” he said ahead of tomorrow’s visit by Dundee.
“We shouldn’t doubt our team. This is our first year and we are working towards something with this team. Hopefully, we can be as successful with this squad as we were.
“There are too many quick to spread negative talk about us.
“Of course the cup is important but we are sitting third in the league and we feel there is much more to come from us.
“We have three boys in the international set-up with Scotland and others very close to it. There are others going away with other countries and boys in the under-21s, too, so there are a lot of good things happening at this club.”