Dons midfielder Afeez Aremu admitted that a thirst for revenge powered Aberdeen’s win over Dundee at Pittodrie.

“First half, it was looking difficult in the beginning, but after some minutes we took control, we got some chances. We got a lot of boys in their box to create the chances, but we couldn't manage to get the goal.

“But then we came out in the second half, it was different from the first half. We have to push ourselves. We know if we score one goal, more goals will come.

“In the dressing room after the first half, we just have to talk to ourselves. Because this is quite different from the league game. We just have to take revenge from what happened to us last week against them, because they punished us.

“Last week was really sad. After the game, everyone was sad. But we knew we're going to play them in the cup game, so we just put the game behind us. It's not like they're better than us. We have a lot of quality players in the team also.

“Because we did well in the first half, it gave us the confidence to go out in the second half to do more. And we win the game.

“It's good to have Kevin Nisbet in the team. Everyone knows he's very dangerous in the box. Also, he's the captain. He makes a great standard in the dressing room, and in training also. He is a good example for the young players in the team.”

Aremu has begun to find real consistency in the Aberdeen midfield this term, admitting that fitness was an issue for him when he arrived in the January window.

“Last season, I was coming from my team in Germany. If you want to leave your club, you have to train safely, to not get injured before the medical. So I was not really fit when I came. I was pushing, pushing, pushing. Every training session. But I think this season I'm more fit than last season. In the summer, I had to work hard. I have to smash it this season. I have to do better than what I did last season.

““The gaffer always tells us in training, we just have to keep stepping forward. Stepping up our performance in training and the games also. This game is left in the bin now, now we have to focus on the next game. To make our performance higher, because every game is different.

“This season, we have a lot of good signings, a lot of quality players. They can help us this season. I think it's going to be a different season. We're aiming for the top six, and now we're going to the quarter-final, we're looking forward to win this trophy. Gaffer has won this cup before, so he wants to win it again. This is one of the reasons I came to this club, to win titles and to play in Europe, which is one of my dreams.”