Manager Neil Warnock spoke to the media on Friday morning to preview our Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Fifth Round tie with Bonnyrigg Rose at Pittodrie on Saturday. RedTV subscribers can watch in full now.

“I’ve had a couple of day in the job now. They are a good group of lads, the facilities are excellent. I went to Tesco last night and I have never seen so many Aberdeen fans! They all welcomed me so it was lovely. I think they all know I am going to try and do the best that I can really. People thought I wouldn’t come up here but it is just a nice challenge if I am honest.

“Having seen the players on Tuesday, they showed me that effort is not going to be a problem. I am not a data person like most people are these days but I do look at things like that. To be honest I was gobsmacked with certain players and how much ground they covered. They all put in a really good shift. That is a minimum requirement really. They could have got a result. I didn’t see the handball until later. I thought they really tried and the adaption was very, very good.

“I have been in Bonnyrigg’s position, you have got nothing to lose. When I was at Burton Albion we played Leicester City from the Premier League, with Gary Lineker and all of that lot. The talk around the place was unbelievable. I have had a few good cup runs as an underdog and I have had a few as ones that should win it. It will be difficult, there are no easy games when they have come this far in the competition. They are well organised, they have some good players and a good following. It will be a typical cup tie. I think cup ties like that are very good.

“I would like to get to a Cup Final. There is only so much that is left to play for in the season and it has become very important to me. The lads know that as well. On the day you need luck going for you and things like that as well. I am hoping that the attitude they have shown me they have taken on board.

“If the attitude is like what it was the other night, there are no excuses for it not being like that. Then you hope your ability takes you through. We have worked on a couple of bits over the past few days. I do like to have a go at teams, whoever they are. It was difficult the other night because they have some good players but we attacked at times and we got beaten by two preventable goals. There is a lot to work on. They beat Falkirk the last time in the cup with a couple of good goals.“All games are physically demanding. I am quite good at looking at what certain players need and what certain players don’t need. I feel at this stage of the season if you are not fit then you will never be fit. Rest is as important as training. It is a matter of brushing up on things that I want that they are maybe not used to. It doesn’t take a lot of work but just using your brain a little bit and listening to what we are talking about.

“Tomorrow will be my first match at Pittodrie. I went down yesterday. It is how I see football from when I grew up and all the way through it. The crowd is right onto you. I have had nothing but good wishes. I suppose people don’t tell me horrible things to my face!

“I want to win every game while I am here and definitely want to play against the big boys again. I think it is a very important situation. That is why they have got to come out of the traps and make sure they are ready. We have worked on one or two things. I am quietly confident but at the same time respectful of what they can do to us.

“I would like to win the cup. It is okay talking about it. You have seen us play against Celtic and Rangers. A few years ago I would have said they are miles ahead of us but I wouldn’t say that now. They are better than us but I think with the right attitude and tactical wit you can have a go at them.

“We have one or two little knocks. We have a decent squad, I might make a couple of changes. I will have a look this morning at what one or two of the lads are like and come up with something. Graeme Shinnie is the manager’s leader out there, a great attitude and I have enjoyed working with him and I think he has enjoyed working with me as well. We have had a couple of really long chats. The other lads have all got a challenge now, they are all going to get opportunities and it is up to them to stay in the team. To do that they have to play well. I hope competition for places hots up now.”