Dons determined to dodge cup shock

24 August 2010 07:48
Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee believes his players have more "determination and willingness" to avoid a cup shock this season.[LNB] The Dons go into tonight's Co-operative Insurance Cup second-round clash at Alloa with the memory of last season's knockout blows against Dundee and Raith Rovers fresh in the memory.[LNB]Cup upsets against the likes of Queen's Park and Queen of the South cost previous boss Jimmy Calderwood his job but McGhee is optimistic the opening Clydesdale Bank Premier League wins over Hamilton and St Johnstone have signalled a shift in attitude.[LNB]"I believe we are capable of winning at Alloa but only if the players show the same determination and willingness to fight their corner like they did at Perth on Saturday," McGhee said of his side's late 1-0 win. "If they do, I have no doubts we will make the next round. We go into this tie with confidence a lot higher than it was when we went into those ties last season.[LNB]"If we hadn't made such a good start we would have been a lot more worried about going to Alloa.[LNB]"They would have had someone at Perth watching us and they would have seen how different our attitude is now and how eager everyone in the squad is to be involved and do well."[LNB]Raith are looking to claim another scalp tonight but Hamilton manager Billy Reid insists he will not be taken by surprise at Starks Park.[LNB]Reid, whose side are looking to bounce back from a nightmare start to their SPL campaign where they have lost eight goals in two games, is well aware of the threat posed by the Irn-Bru First Division leaders.[LNB]The Accies boss, who hopes to include new signing Nigel Hasselbaink, said: "I know them inside out, I know a lot of their players and have watched them several times.[LNB]"It will be a difficult game, they are top of the league and so we will need to approach the game in the right manner.[LNB]"But we are looking forward to it. You only have to win a couple of rounds in this tournament and you get a chance to play in the national stadium."[LNB]Hearts manager Jim Jefferies is happy with the strength of his squad as he prepares to welcome back midfielders Ryan Stevenson and Eggert Jonsson from suspension for the home tie with Elgin City.[LNB]But he is still looking to sign an attacking midfielder after seeing a bid for Kilmarnock skipper Craig Bryson rejected.[LNB]"I still think there is an area like the middle of the park where a player that can get beyond the strikers would be nice to have," Jefferies said.[LNB]"If we don't get the one we want then we'll just have to keep working away until the next transfer window and go on with what we have."[LNB]St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes will treat his old club Morton with the utmost respect at McDiarmid Park.[LNB]McInnes said: "We will play our strongest side against Morton, no question.[LNB]"I saw them up at Ross County last week and I was impressed by the way they played and the reports we have had on them have been impressive. So we know we have a game on our hands.[LNB]"And we know all about the financial benefits of doing well in the cup so we want to progress as far as we can."

Source: Team_Talk