Brown sees close encounter

Nerves, anticipation and excitement. It’s a grand time to be an Aberdeen supporter, with tomorrow’s Betfred Cup semi-final against Morton offering a brilliant chance for more success.

Forget the early kick-off time if you can – the less said about the way the game is governed the better. The thousands of Dons supporters who will make the journey to Hampden tomorrow know this could be a special day.

I expect the Dons to get through to the final and I reckon they will face Celtic in the decider, but it’s going to be tough, incredibly tough.

Morton have been excellent in the Championship this season, witnessed by their thumping win at previously unbeaten Queen of the South last Saturday, but the Dons are hardly slouches.

Defeating Rangers in the Premiership at Pittodrie might just be seen as a defining moment in their campaign and Derek McInnes’ men have taken to the challenge.

Time was the Dons didn’t know how to win the big games. I know the Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Queen of the South still burns in the memory but this is a different time and the players have the confidence to stamp their authority on any opposition.

Not too many years ago, opposition teams would be licking their lips at the thought of taking on the Reds in knockout competitions. No longer – and it’s impossible to underestimate the importance of the League Cup final win against Caley Thistle a couple of years ago.

The playing staff may have changed since then but the culture of winning remains and those players who come into the squad know they must deliver and will expect to perform.

“Forget the early kick-off time if you can – the less said about the way the game is governed the better”

Much of the credit for that change in culture has to be down to the manager.

Never underestimate McInnes’ determination to succeed.

He is an ambitious man and, although idle chatter about him becoming the next Scotland manger should be binned for at least 10 years, the structure has been put into place at Pittodrie for Aberdeen to succeed after too many years of chopping and changing the man in charge. he other semi-final, on Sunday, seems to be getting a lot of attention. I can’t for the life of me think why.

I expect Celtic to beat Rangers in this second Old Firm game of the season but there’s no way there will be a repeat of the 5-1 league hammering handed out by the Hoops in September.

Rangers, for all the chatter swirling around Ibrox, have improved and, in Kenny Miller, they have a talented forward I reckon should still be involved in the Scotland squad.

We’re not blessed with limitless attacking options and the veteran would be the perfect man to impart knowledge to the likes of Leigh Griffiths and Chris Martin as they try to establish themselves in the national team.

I’m taking Celtic to win, just, but I’m not banking on Brendan Rodgers’ men to go on to lift the trophy.

Twists and turns ahead, and I repeat what I said at the start – it’s a grand time to be an Aberdeen supporter.

T

of the League Cup at Hampden Park yesterday

Parkhead club since Rodgers took over from Ronny Deila in the summer is significant. He said: “We have brought in some great players and that has helped. “We have Moussa Dembele, who is scoring goals as well, we have Leigh Griffiths who scored 40 goals...