Craig Relishing Celtic Clash

ABERDEEN boss Craig Brown is relishing the prospect of another cup semi-final against Celtic, despite the Dons' record of four defeats and 17 goals conceded against the Hoops this season.

The run includes the 4-1 defeat in the semi-final of the Co-operative Insurance Cup. However, Brown believes his players can be a match for the Glasgow giants.

"We have played Celtic three times since I came here and two of the games have been pretty close," said Brown after his side booked a place in the last four of the Scottish Cup with a tense 2-1 quarter-final replay victory over St Mirren.

"Even the game when we had to play for 88 minutes with a man short it took Celtic until 10 minutes from the end to clinch the victory.

"In the league game at Celtic Park they only beat us 1-0 and we had great chances at the end to equalise.

"The three goals we lost in the early moments at Hampden are the biggest disappointment for me since I came here.

"I would love to be able to assure the fans that that won't happen again. We will do everything in our power to ensure that it doesn't."

Brown reckons having a semi-final to look forward to will also help his side move up the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table.

"We will improve for this semi-final - that is certain," he said. "Maybe this semi-final appearance will boost us in our remaining four matches before the split.

"Who knows? We may manage to get some points to lift us into a pretty comfortable, maybe even a surprising, position."

Source: PA

Source: PA