'I know how to motivate teams' - Robinson urges Aberdeen to seize Hampden chance

Robinson backs Aberdeen to upset Rangers at Hampden, saying the semi-final is the perfect chance to turn around a disappointing start to the season.

Aberdeen head to Saturday's Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden against Rangers on the back of just one win in five games and a 1-0 home loss to Falkirk that drew angry boos from supporters. The Dons sit ninth in the Premiership, three points above the bottom.

Head coach Stephen Robinson, who won the same trophy with St Mirren last year, expressed confidence in his ability to motivate the team for the occasion. "Every semi-final that I've been in with Motherwell and St Mirren, we were not expected to win. So I know how to motivate teams," he said. Robinson acknowledged the criticism directed at him and the players following the Falkirk defeat but insisted there are no divisions in the squad. "There are no factions, there are no people going off on their own, everyone wants to turn that around."

Captain Kevin Nisbet echoed the sentiment, saying the players owe the manager, fans and club a strong performance. Rangers boss Derek McInnes, who spent eight years at Aberdeen, has publicly backed Robinson to succeed if given time.