Lewis hopeful cup run can turn Dons’ campaign around

JOE LEWIS believes the new schedule for the Scottish Cup provides Aberdeen with a vital chance to transform perceptions of their season. The Pittodrie club have won just one of their last eight matches ahead of today’s home clash against Hamilton, yet are still hunting third place in the Premiership. Captain Lewis is optimistic they can close a four-point gap on Hibernian — who also have a game in hand — but accepts results must turn quickly. Aberdeen will also now kick off their cup campaign with a delayed third-round tie against Huntly or Dumbarton on April 3 after it was confirmed the competition will restart. And Lewis (right) wants to pursue twin targets over the next couple of months to dispel the recent gloom. ‘There’s not much time left between now and the end of the season, so every game is vital and really important to every team now,’ said Lewis. ‘Everyone is fighting for something and now the Scottish Cup is being played, it adds another dynamic to it. ‘We have to fight for every point, take it one game at a time and scrap for everything. ‘If we can get things right in the next few months, we might be able to look back on the season with a different look to what it has had at certain stages. ‘It’s such a big opportunity to transform our season into something successful. The way the cup is going to be, with it so condensed, you don’t need to play well for a massive portion of the season to win the trophy. ‘It could just be a team who goes on a really good run and gets the momentum at the right time. ‘That could be enough to win you the trophy and hopefully we can be that team.’ Today’s visitors will be denied the services of in-form striker Bruce Anderson due to the terms of his loan agreement from the Dons but Accies manager Brian Rice — who will also have to do without the injured Marios Ogkmpoe — insists the absence of his first-choice strike pairing will merely hand an opportunity for someone else to play a starring role. Rice said: ‘It will be a loss considering we have lost Bruce with the agreement with Aberdeen and have lost Marios as well. ‘But, like I keep saying, these things happen and we just have to get on with it, so it is a chance for two others. ‘The two that come in tomorrow maybe become two heroes and they stay in the team. If you get in the team, you get the chance. It is up to you to stay in it and that is the way I put it to them.’ Hamilton have lost only once in their last five matches and Rice added: ‘We have lacked numbers at times but we haven’t lacked confidence. ‘I think you can see with the way they are playing and going about their business that they believe in each other and everything we are doing.’