No Giant-Killers Please
By Ed_ScottishFitba
Updated Saturday, 7th February 2009
So says Jimmy Calderwood as he prepares for the Scottish Cup game against East Fife.
Aberdeen's Jimmy Calderwood should be able to include Andrew Considine and Zander Diamond in the Aberdeen side to face East Fife in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup after they return from suspension and injury respectively. Calderwood has no desire to be the side in the papers but out of the cup after losing to lower league giant-killers and he admits he still has nightmares about last season's Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Queen of the South. Calderwood watched Premier League side West Brom humbled by the Championship's Burnley in the FA Cup, and has assured fans he will name his best side to face the Second Division outfit. He said: "We are not going to take any chances. We will pick the strongest team that we think can win that game. We aren't good enough to underestimate anybody. I understand that West Brom played a few players that hadn't been playing regularly for them the other night. We want to win this match so we need all of our best players on the park."
It was 19 years ago that Aberdeen last lifted the Scottish Cup thanks to a dramatic 9-8 penalty shoot-out win over Celtic. Calderwood admits ending Aberdeen's years of Scottish Cup misery since then is at the top of his agenda. he said: "Finishing third in the league was always the aim for me because it shows you have been consistent over the course of the season. But when you know it is nine years since you have been in a final and 19 years since you have won the Scottish Cup then I think the preference would be to win the Scottish Cup. We have every chance of going on and doing it. I have had some great times at Aberdeen but that would be the icing on the cake. It would be absolutely fabulous and the supporters - whether they like you or not - would never forget you if you did that."
Calderwood will be able to be on more than just nodding terms with some of the players in the East Fife team this weekend. He has managed a few over the years and they will be doing their best to knock their old boss out of the cup. He said: "I have had Steve Crawford at two different clubs and he is a fabulous lad and a great guy to work with. When he was up front with Craig Brewster I thought they were phenomenal together. I have also managed Chris Templeman and Greig McDonald and I know they will also be out there looking to do well." Calderwood added that he would not be taking the Second Division side lightly after getting some words of warning from former Dundee United boss Jim McLean. He said: "I went down to watch East Fife play Arbroath a couple of weeks ago and Jim McLean was there with his wife. He spoke very highly of them and was praising their manager David Baikie. For a man of that quality and experience to say that about somebody is enough for me. We have been well warned."
East Fife make the journey north with Jonny Smart available after he missed last week's 3-0 defeat by Peterhead through injury. However, he came through training without any problems this week and should be available to play. However, Kevin Fotheringham remains suspended from first-team action. Although Aberdeen have more than matched both halves of the Old Firm in recent weeks, Pittodrie holds no fears for the Fifers according to manager Dave Baikie. The management team have done their homework, and this week have been busy trying to assess all areas of the Aberdeen team in order to identify any possible weaknesses. | Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba.net)
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