DEFIANT Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin has vowed to fight on after the worst defeat in the football club’s 120-year history.
The Dons last night suffered a shock 1-0 Scottish Cup exit at sixth-tier Darvel to mount more pressure on under-fire Goodwin.
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The loss has been described as the biggest upset in 149 years of Scottish Cup history.
Darvel are the first non-league outfit to beat a top-flight club in this competition for 57 years – and were massive outsiders at 16/1 to win.
The Press and Journal says Goodwin accepts it was an embarrassing loss, but believes he can still revive Aberdeen’s ailing fortunes.
However, he admits he might not get the chance to turn it around as “nobody has got assurances from anyone”.
US-based Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack was at Recreation Park to watch the match.
The Reds have now exited both cup competitions and also suffered a 5-0 loss at Hearts in little more than a week.
The 700 away fans in Darvel made their frustration and anger clear at full-time.
Goodwin told the press: “I do believe I can turn it around, absolutely.
“I have confidence in the squad I have got, although we are going through a very difficult period at the moment.
“To concede five in midweek against Hearts and then to come here to a junior team and get turned over is embarrassing and humiliating for everyone connected to the club.
“I can only apologise. I speak on behalf of everyone, the staff and players here – we are extremely embarrassed by what happened.”
Aberdeen have now won just once in nine games since the winter break.
The Dons were overwhelmed by Hearts last week to give the slim aspirations of a push to finish third a stark reality check.
Cormack sacked Stephen Glass after 11 months as manager in March last year following a Scottish Cup defeat at Motherwell.
Goodwin was appointed Glass’ successor 11 months ago, in mid-February.
Asked if he can survive the biggest shock in the Scottish Cup’s history, Goodwin said: “Nobody has got assurances from anyone.
“As a manager especially as the size of Aberdeen (FC), you need to win games of football and our form since the World Cup break hasn’t been good enough.
“This is an extremely difficult result for me to take.”
