Source: FOOTYMAD
No Watering Down Of Effort
Aberdeen will be up for the game against Rangers Aberdeen have no plans to put out a weakened team tonight to face Rangers ahead of their Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic on Sunday. Manager Craig Brown has so few options available and is likely to be without seven first-team players for the game. All seven would also struggle to make Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final against the Parkhead club as Rory McArdle has joined Yoann Folly, Darren Mackie and Fraser Fyvie on the long-term injury list after dislocating his shoulder; with Paul Hartley, Zander Diamond and David McNamee also doubtful for the trip to Hampden. Briown is at pains to refute any allegations that he will deliberately weaken his team. He said: "No-one can accuse us of that. The lads didn't play on Saturday against Hibs and it's unlikely all if any will make it for Sunday. Sunday is still a difficulty for these guys. Four are definitely out and we might not get a return from Hartley, Diamond and McNamee. But no-one can say they are in match-condition, they haven't played. If we were to use them it's because we're struggling for resources. A club like this with the resources we have can't cope with seven or eight injuries." Earlier this season Rangers came back from two goals down to win at Pittodrie but it was their first win in Aberdeen for seven games. Aberdeen won five of the previous nine meetings between the teams at their own stadium. Brown ejected any notion that the Dons players were lacking in drive in other games since he and assistant Archie Knox took charge in December. He said: "Most teams, when they play against the Old Firm, there is no need for motivation. I can't fault our lads in terms of motivation. They have gone into every game with great endeavour and they have finished every game well, which shows a good level of determination and fitness. On so many occasions they have scored late in matches. It's easier when there's a big crowd and you're playing a prestigious team to make sure the players are well focused, that's undoubted." Rangers manager Walter Smith says he has no concerns about the condition of the Pittodrie pitch after watching his players play on a difficult McDiarmid Park surface against St Johnstone last week. He said: "I'll be happy enough if we play the way we played at Perth, we showed a good edge to our game there and played well and handled the conditions well. I'm not so sure Pittodrie is that bad but we will have to wait and see. I'll be happy if we turn in a performance similar to the one at Perth last week.'' Smith will have to ensure his plans do not include Richard Foster as the defender is ineligible for the trip to Pittodrie under the terms of his loan agreement. Lee McCulloch (knee) and Kirk Broadfoot (foot) remain on the sidelines, while Vladimir Weiss is awaiting the results of a scan on his foot and is expected to be out of action for another couple of weeks.
