Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has paid tribute to the 1,300 Kilmarnock supporters who are set to make the long journey in difficult conditions to Pittodrie for today’s Scottish Cup tie – but still hopes to send them back to Ayrshire disappointed.
All weekend Scottish Professional Football League matches have been postponed due to the wintry weather but the Scottish FA remain confident all four Scottish Cup quarter-final matches will take place as planned.
With road and rail networks hit by heavy snow, the Killie supporters as well as many Dons fans will face tricky conditions to get to the ground for today’s encounter.
The Dons have also announced that the South Stand will be closed to home supporters as the weather conditions have affected water supplies. Fans with tickets for the South Stand will be moved to the upper section of the Richard Donald Stand.
McInnes, who has won 14 of his 15 games against Kilmarnock during his time in charge of the Dons, said: “We’re looking forward to the game.
“In the last 48 hours there’s been serious doubts about whether the game would go ahead.
“I think the combination of the weather relenting a little, the good work done by the ground staff here and both clubs wanting to get the game played is a big factor. I think it’ll probably affect a lot of our supporters getting to the game, especially the ones from the rural areas and the central belt.
“It’s obviously the Kilmarnock fans that have the most risk in terms of getting here to the game. The fact that they’re bringing so many, that it’s a quarter final, and that it’s on is making us all looking forward to it.
“The ticket sales have been good from the Kilmarnock fans. Ideally for a quarter final you want it played on a Saturday at 3pm.”
The Dons welcome back captain Graeme Shinnie from suspension and Ryan Christie, who was ineligible to face parent club Celtic, but Andrew Considine and Sam Consgrove are both banned.
McInnes added: “I think it’s a big game for us.
“When you’re in the quarter final of the cup it’s an opportunity for both teams.
“We see it as an opportunity to get back to the national stadium. Having went there four times last year we want to get back there again.
“A win against Kilmarnock allows us to do that. It’s a big game but it’s a big game because it’s the next one and we want to do so well in the cup.”