Barry Robson reveals the Aberdeen team talk from Derek McInnes he'll be channeling to down Rangers at Hampden

Barry Robson scored a penalty last time Aberdeen won a trophy and he has his players practicing spot-kicks in case it goes the distance again.

Barry Robson has revealed an ill-timed toilet break left him on the spot the last time Aberdeen lifted the League Cup.

The Dons boss was part of Derek McInnes’ side who last delivered silverware for the club back in 2014 when they saw off Inverness on penalties at Celtic Park. Robson ran into the toilet after the final whistle and returned to be told by McInnes that he was taking the first penalty. The midfielder converted it and his team-mates also delivered to allow Adam Rooney to step forward and seal the trophy.

Asked about McInnes’ team talk that day, Robson recalled: “Just make sure you win!’ I remember we got to the penalty kicks. I think he had been desperate to take me off but he knew that I was a good penalty taker so he left me on. I had been drinking lots of fluids towards the end of the game so I had to run in to do a pee at the end.

“I think he had asked everybody ‘Who wants to take a penalty?’ and when I’ve come running back out he said: ‘Hurry up you, you’re taking the first one!’ No option, no discussion. That was it. Everybody else got to pick. Luckily we got off to a good start.

“That was Derek’s great strength, he knew he was signing players with that drive and determination – much like himself. He knew someone like me was not going to back down. Just as well I scored or it would have been a different story – he’d have been tearing after me!”

The Dons will have practice penalties should Sunday's Hampden clash with Rangers also need to be decided by spot kicks. Robson admitted: “We will be practising penalties on Saturday. Just believe in yourself. Back yourself. If you miss it, you miss it. Just go up and believe in yourself.”

Aberdeen will go into the game full of confidence after their win against Hearts and Thursday’s Europa Conference League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. The team has struggled to cope with the demands of juggling European and domestic football but Robson is now starting to see signs of improvement.

He said: “They have got better and better at handling it. Look at the last couple of games but they were terrific before that. There were a couple of matches where we haven’t been at it and people have come after us a little bit because of that.

“I have so much belief in the team and the players and how they have performed. When you analyse it and dig deep down, we have played seven games away from home and four games off the back of Europe we were away domestically. If you really look into the context of things the boys have done really well.”

It has been a whirlwind first 11 months in charge for Robson. He initially came in as interim boss before leading Dons to a third-place finish and into the group stages of European football for the first time in 15 years.

Now he has the Pittodrie side on the verge of their first trophy in nine years. He said: “To finish in third place, get into group stage football for the second time in the club’s history and to get to a final – it has been hard but enjoyable work.

“We’ve also had to build a new squad in the middle of that. It has been challenging. We’ve been through a lot but that is why I have Steve Agnew beside me. He is experienced, has seen it all and done it all.

“Peter Leven has come in and done well and Craig Samson has done well with the goalkeepers. They are good people who want to do well.”

Robson relies heavily on his assistant Agnew. The Englishman is hugely experienced but even he has caught the cup final bug. The Aberdeen boss claimed: “I think that’s something he is excited about.

“He just lives and breathes football, jumps on that flight to see the family, next thing he is back up with his tracksuit on. He just loves it. He can’t stay off that training pitch.

“Aggers just walks about being positive about life. He is as good as you will get. He is really bright on the game, players respect him.

“He has been through it all and seen it all – worked in the Premier League, the top league in the world, for years. He has had some stick, some praise. Aggers has had it all. He is just a terrific guy to have in the building. We are lucky to have him.”