Aberdeen v Raith Rovers: Dougie Imrie plotting Scottish Cup shock at Pittodrie

Imrie, whose team haven’t won in their last four William Hill Championship matches, told the Fife Free Press: "These are the games you want to be involved in, fourth round of the Scottish Cup, away at Premier League, opposition. We're all looking forward to it.

"It's been a great week, considering the way we lost the game last Saturday at home to Arbroath.

"But the boys are certainly up for it. The training has been excellent this week.

"Aberdeen have probably not been at the standard they would expect this season.

"Last season, when (former manager) Jimmy Thelin came in, he was excellent. I think the first 12 games, he won 11 or something like that.

"He was flying at the top end of the table and ended up winning the Scottish Cup.

"I think they were expecting this season to kick on. They've spent big money on players as well. They've got a massive squad.

"It's just not happened for them for whatever reason. They've made a call to let Jimmy go. Peter (Leven) is now in there at the moment, interim.

"But we have to take advantage, or try and take advantage of that form.”

On Aberdeen’s poor recent form which led to Thelin’s dismissal, Imrie added: “I don't know the last time they won, but they've certainly not won in the last five or six anyway. We've done our analysis on them.

"I think they've scored one goal in five, conceded eight. Preparing for any game against a Premier League opposition, the first 10 minutes are always really important.

"You go there, you don't give them an inch to allow the crowd to get up and get behind them. You've got to try and keep them quiet.

"Then hopefully allow the fans to get a little bit of unrest. That hopefully leads on to the pitch, being there as a player.

"Then you can start to be a little bit more expansive. Then hopefully go and nick a goal or two. You never know what can happen.

"They are very fragile. I watched parts of the game against Rangers on Sunday. I thought that the first 45 minutes, Aberdeen were good. Then in the second half, they kind of petered out.

"Rangers were pretty comfortable in the end. But again, we have to respect them. We are the Championship club, they are the Premiership club.

"They'll be out to make a statement. It's their first game back.

"They're having to defend their crown as well. We know what's at stake.

"I believe in this group of players that they can go there and hopefully cause an upset.”