Drawing Raith Rovers in the Premier Sports Cup must deliver a stark warning against underestimating lower league teams.
The Dons will go up against Raith, Peterhead, Dumbarton and Stirling Albion in the group stages.
Landing Raith will bring back nightmares for the Red Army as they sent the Dons crashing out of the same tournament last season.
Former manager Stephen Glass clearly underestimated Raith’s potential danger by resting seven players for that tie.
As well as dropping three defenders the heart of the midfield also sat on the bench with captain Scott Brown and Lewis Ferguson dropped at Raith.
The Dons’ primary creative outlet Ryan Hedges and main striker Christian Ramirez were also benched.
It backfired badly as the Dons blew a 1-0 half-time lead to lose 2-1.
That defeat at Stark’s Park is a cautionary tale ahead of the group stages which start on the weekend of July 9/10.
Aberdeen went into that game at Raith on a high last August after a great start to the season.
The wheels came off at Raith which was the start of a 10 game run without a win that Aberdeen never really recovered from.
That defeat is a valuable lesson that lower league teams will give their absolute all to deliver a shock against a Premiership club.
I am sure manager Jim Goodwin will not make the same mistake in the Group A games of the Premier Sports Cup.
When he discovers what his strongest starting XI is after a summer rebuild and pre-season then he must play that in the group games.
It is vital the Dons progress through the group stages to keep alive the chance of winning a first trophy since 2014.
The Premier Sports Cup should not be treated like pre-season friendlies.
They are competitive games and must be given that respect from the offset.
A successful Premier Sports Cup group stage campaign is vital to build momentum for what will be a new look team.
What that team will look like – who knows?
Aberdeen haven’t signed any players yet in what will have to be a major summer rebuild.
So there is that uncertainty about what the new look team will look like.
One thing is certain though. Aberdeen will have to fight for everything in the Premier Sports Cup group stages.
There will be no easing in to the campaign.
They may be facing lower league clubs in Group A but they will all be up for a battle.
It is a blow for supporters that there is no European football for the first time since 2014.
For each of the previous eight years they have been treated to European action.
Facing lower league teams in the Premier Sports Cup obviously doesn’t have the glamour of football against clubs from other countries.
However it is just as important.
It has been eight years now since Aberdeen last won a trophy, the League Cup in March 2014.
That was the Reds first silverware since a near two decade drought dating back to the 1995 League Cup glory.
The Premier Sports Cup offers the opportunity to lift a trophy again.
Regardless of how the tournament starts the end game can be securing silverware at Hampden.
Every club must be treated with utmost respect in the bid to lift the trophy.
Date with destiny for Scotland
We all feel for Ukraine and the horrific war they are enduring following Russia’s invasion.
It is heartbreaking and the Ukrainians are suffering so much.
We all feel immense sympathy for the nation but all those emotions must be put aside during game time of Scotland’s World Cup play-off semi-final with Ukraine.
I’m sure the Tartan Army will give Ukraine a tremendous reception at Hampden on Wednesday night.
However the bottom line is that Scotland must beat Ukraine.
A place in the World Cup play-off final against Wales in Cardiff is at stake.
If Steve Clarke’s Scots beat Ukraine they are just one win away from the World Cup in Qatar.
That would be a momentous achievement that would bring untold benefits to the Scottish game.
Scotland are certainly good enough to book a spot in the World Cup for the first time since France 1998.
Clarke can call on players performing at a high level in the English top flight.
Scotland’s captain Andy Robertson is set to play for Liverpool in the Champions League final against Real Madrid tomorrow.
The Scots go into the Ukraine match unbeaten in eight games.
They have clicked under Clarke and there is real momentum that will hopefully drive them all the way to Qatar.
The quality is there and now the Scots must make that count by grabbing their day with destiny.
McKenna deserves top flight action
Hopefully Scott McKenna can secure promotion to the English Premier League with Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Centre-back McKenna is set to start Forest’s play-off final against Huddersfield at Wembley.
Former Aberdeen defender McKenna has been superb for Forest this season.
The Pittodrie Youth Academy graduate has improved so much since his £3m move to Forest in September 2020.
Scotland cap McKenna has all the attributes needed to be a success in the English top flight. I will never forget his stunning goal against Kilmarnock.
McKenna is proof of the great work being done by Aberdeen’s Youth Academy.
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