Source: Team_Talk
Leitch bans talk of cup shocks
Scott Leitch has banished talk of last season's struggles as Aberdeen look to augment their promising league start with early cup success.[LNB] The Scottish Premier League leaders visit Alloa in the Co-operative Insurance Cup second round on Tuesday night attempting to record their third consecutive victory and clean sheet.[LNB]Wins over Hamilton and St Johnstone, who both finished above Aberdeen last season, have given Mark McGhee's new-look side a spring in their step following a miserable debut season under the manager.[LNB]Aberdeen only managed consecutive league wins on one occasion last season and assistant boss Leitch is now looking for them to put talk of cup shocks to one side too as they take on Allan Maitland's Alloa side.[LNB]Aberdeen fell to Dundee and Raith in the knockout competitions last season, but Leitch is not interested in revisiting old failures.[LNB]"I don't think we should speak about last season," the former Motherwell captain said.[LNB]"We should speak about this season - that's a positive. The boys have come back and worked extremely hard and we're delighted with their attitude.[LNB]"I'm not the type of person to look back - you look forward to a new challenge.[LNB]"We will go there with confidence but we will definitely show them the respect they deserve."[LNB]Leitch admits Aberdeen will have to live with the pressure of being favourites, something they have struggled with in recent season.[LNB]"The pressure is on every SPL team in the cup competitions," he added.[LNB]"I know Allan Maitland very well, he's a close friend of mine, and I know how his teams work."[LNB]Aberdeen will have to deal with the artificial surface at Recreation Park too and Leitch is wary, especially given how Tottenham struggled at the start of their 3-2 Champions League qualifying defeat against Young Boys on a plastic pitch.[LNB]"I think it's an advantage (to Alloa)," Leitch said. "We saw that with Tottenham in Europe.[LNB]"It's a great opportunity for them. They know the way the ball rolls, how it bounces, how it moves.[LNB]"Our boys have to be very cautious but very professional."
