The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Dons must pack punch in Paisley
AFC: McInnes urges his Reds to box clever against Buddies
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has challenged his side to come out swinging and deliver a knockout blow to St Mirren in the Scottish Cup tomorrow.
The Dons boss, pictured below, has watched his side fail to score on their two previous visits to Paisley this season but, with a place in the semi-finals of the national cup competition at stake tomorrow, McInnes has demanded a display of attacking intent from his side.
He said: “When we went to St Mirren the last time we were timid in our attacking play. We never looked like scoring a goal.
“We controlled the game and were the better side for the majority of it – but we were like a boxer without a punch.
“We didn’t take enough shots on and we didn’t make the most of the possession we had.
“At that time we were taking an extra touch and looking for that extra pass.
“But now, I think over the last five or six games we have looked far better attacking-wise. We are in a better place now than we were last month. But cup football is not about performances it is about making it through.”
The Dons fans have sold out the club’s 1,800 allocation for tomorrow’s game in Paisley and the Aberdeen manager would love nothing more than to repay the show of support by booking the Red Army a trip to Hampden for a semi-final.
He said: “How you do in the cup can sometimes define your season. If we can get a strong run, get through this one, it would swell the numbers. The enthusiasm builds more and more and the excitement levels go up as you gain momentum.
“The benefit of a cup run is clear for everyone. Our fans have sold out their allocation in Paisley and hopefully we can give them something to shout about.
“We want to get back to Hampden, there are only eight teams left in the competition and we want to be part of the last four.”
Cup runs have been prevalent at the club this season with both the youth team and the reserve side reaching their respective national cup finals and McInnes is relishing the chance of making it a hattrick with his squad.
He said: “Our under-age teams and the reserves have got to cup finals so we want to make it three for the club this season. We want to do our bit too. It’s a game to be enjoyed and we certainly want to do that.”
Ryan Hedges will miss out due to a thigh strain but Funso Ojo and Craig Bryson, who missed the 2-1 defeat to Ross County, are added to the squad.
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack will get his wish for Saturday-night football a week earlier than he might have anticipated when the Dons travel to St Mirren tomorrow on Scottish Cup duty.
The proposed Saturdaynight Premiership game against Hibernian at Pittodrie next week failed to come to fruition but a place in the cup semi-final is at stake in Paisley.
A TV audience can watch Aberdeen’s bid to reach their fifth Scottish Cup semi-final in six years and Dons manager Derek McInnes is expecting another big test in the push for a return to Hampden.
He said: “We play when we are asked to. Television dictates it and I don’t have any problems with it. We are looking forward to the game.
“I saw St Mirren beat Motherwell 2-1 on Tuesday. They hung in during the first half when Motherwell were the better team but they always carried a threat. Both teams went with two strikers. The game was quite open but St Mirren kept working away and were good in the second half.
“They got their reward for hanging in there and they have a threat with Jon Obika up front.
“I see similarities with Kilmarnock in terms of playing with a focal point in a front two and they support forwards quickly. Any team is dependent on someone scoring goals and they are well organised and carry a threat up front.”
Aberdeen fans have responded enthusiastically to the quarterfinal by selling out their 1,800 allocation for Paisley and McInnes hopes the forecast of rain does not affect the game.
He said: “When you have television games there is more pressure for it to go ahead.
“We have had severe weather warnings for the last few weeks but have played through it.
“It has been tough for a lot of the teams. The wind has been whipping up and it has affected everyone.
“Hopefully it’s not going to be as bad as the forecast says. We haven’t heard from St Mirren so hopefully it will be fine.
“We say it every year when the cup comes around.
“We have been a good cup team and we want to continue that. We have set a standard and we want to maintain it.
“It is very rare you get to Hampden without beating good teams but I take a lot pride and encouragement from how driven the players were at Kilmarnock.
“The players showed how much they want it and how much it meant to them down at Kilmarnock.
“That shone through in the performance and we want something similar this time around.”