Brown Wary Of Old Heads

Craig Brown capped John Robertson, Gordon Durie and Stevie Crawford but wants them to fail tomorrow Craig Brown is well aware of the threat posed by East Fife from his days as Scotland manager. The Aberdeen manager, who led Scotland to the European Championships in 1996 and the 1998 World Cup, is well aware what it is like to be the underdog, he has also seen the damage East Fife trio John Robertson, Gordon Durie and Stevie Crawford can cause at close hand. Robertson and Durie are now on the coaching staff at East Fife, who visit Pittodrie in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup tomorrow, with Crawford leading the line up front. Brown said: "I'm used to being in the position of John Robertson and I know how his mind will be working. I know the psyche in the other dressing room. I know what they'll be saying. These guys (Robertson, Durie and Crawford) are excellent in terms of football knowledge. I've got great regard for them. They scored goals for Scotland when I was in charge of the team. I know their capability on the pitch and I'm really just glad Robbo and Gordon Durie aren't playing. But Stevie Crawford will have to be watched. Although he's getting on a bit, he's still very capable if they put the ball in the box. He's got a terrific pedigree for scoring goals." Brown knows the Dons, who have won two and drawn one of his three games in charge, are on a hiding to nothing tomorrow. He said: "Aberdeen can only lose here. If you win, that's considered to be routine. But that's the danger - that a routine victory is expected. If that gets into the players' heads it could have a negative transfer to their performance. Our job is to ensure that there's no question of the players thinking this is routine. It will be a fiercely contested game - I'm sure of that. Fifers don't come up here and lie down." Aberdeen are already in the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final, qualifying for the last four under Mark McGhee, and Brown praised his predecessor. He said: "I've got to say great credit to the club and the previous manager - we're in the semi-final of the Co-operative Insurance Cup, which is a good achievement. We'd like to get to at least that level in the Scottish Cup." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is Scottish-Fitba Net

Source: FOOTYMAD