Shearer urges Dons to focus on winning Scottish Cup

Former Aberdeen striker Duncan Shearer has told the Dons to forget about finishing second in the league and channel their efforts into winning the Scottish Cup.

The Dons have dropped to third in the Premiership following back-to-back losses to Hibernian and Celtic.

They return to league action tomorrow with a trip to Partick Thistle but Shearer, who was assistant manager at Pittodrie under Steve Paterson, believes winning Tuesday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Kilmarnock should be the number one priority at his old club.

“For me, winning the cup is more important than being second in the league,” he said.

“The cup draw will have given Killie, the Dons and Motherwell belief they can get to Hampden for the final after missing Celtic and Rangers in the semi-final draw.”

Shearer has been impressed by the turnaround in fortunes at Kilmarnock under Steve Clarke but believes the Dons can win at Rugby Park.

He said: “Stevie Clarke has done an unbelievable job at Kilmarnock. He has brought a fantastic bit of calmness there and they are the form team in the country at the minute.

“To be bottom when he took over and now up to fifth speaks volumes about the job he has done there.

“He commands instant respect and he’s got his team playing with confidence.”

Aberdeen must navigate the tough trip to Firhill to face Partick before Tuesday’s replay and Shearer believes the return of captain Graeme Shinnie and Ryan Christie will be key to tomorrow’s match.

He said: “Partick, in the situation they find themselves in near the bottom, are desperate for points now and they’ll be looking at an Aberdeen team which has lost the last two games in the league and thinking they can get something.

“Injuries and suspensions start to take their toll at this stage of the season and Aberdeen have suffered because of that.”

Duncan Shearer wants the Dons to target cup success.