Aberdeen v Dunfermline: Cup is Dons' only shot at glory this year, admits Brown

Rangers and Celtic have pulled away from all other clubs in the league and will battle for the first silverware of the season when they face each other in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final. The Glasgow rivals also meet in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup this weekend, meaning only one can progress to the quarter-finals.

As far as Brown is concerned, all other clubs who remain standing will regard the Scottish Cup as their only real shot at glory this season. And the Dons boss is determined to see his side dump Dunfermline today and remain in the running for as long as possible.

"There is a magic about the cup and I think everyone agrees the cup has an appeal," he said.

"It's a distraction from the league but most clubs think this is a new venture and something which can give some success to their club. Our only chance of ultimate success this season could be through the Scottish Cup.

"We're not going to win the SPL, only one of two teams will win the SPL, so I think all the rest of us are looking towards the Scottish Cup."

Aberdeen reached the last four of the League Cup before crashing out courtesy of a 4-1 defeat to Celtic and Brown is taking nothing for granted against tomorrow's opponents, Irn-Bru First Division side Dunfermline.

He added: "We've got to keep quite humble about things and just be determined to do better in this cup competition than we did in the last. All credit to Aberdeen for getting to the semi-final of the last one. We want to do that if we possibly can in this one but we realise that this hurdle that we've got on Sunday, Dunfermline, are a very good side."