Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson insists he has not sought any assurances over his position from chairman Dave Cormack despite a woeful run of form.

A 1-0 home defeat to Falkirk on Wednesday night left the Dons slumped in ninth position in the Premiership table with just one win in their last five matches.

A section of the Pittodrie crowd turned on Robinson and his players and booed them off the pitch after another insipid display.

Heading into today’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final clash with Rangers at Hampden, there have been some suggestions that Robinson’s position could be under serious threat.

Whilst accepting the criticism from fans, the under-fire boss insisted it has been business as usual in terms of his conversations with Cormack and new chief executive Adrian Bevington.

‘No, I’m not seeking any assurances,’ said Robinson. ‘I have just had my normal conversations.

‘I speak to the chairman once a week and I speak to Adrian once a week. That’s no different than any other week.

‘So, no, there’s been nothing different. We know the results over the last couple of weeks haven’t been good enough.

‘No one is getting away from that fact and ultimately we deserve the criticism we got. I deserve the criticism, I don’t hide behind that. And I don’t try to throw players under the bus.

‘The players know it needs to be better and they are all in that together. There are no factions, there are no people going off on their own, everyone wants to turn that around.

‘I know given time, this can be very successful. But I also live in the real world. You need to get results that give yourself longevity.

‘Certainly, everybody wants time, but you don’t get given time in football. We’re all well aware of that and results are what dictates that. And what a place to start at Hampden.’

Ahead of this evening’s clash at Hampden, Robinson believes it will be the perfect opportunity for Aberdeen to turn their season around if they can beat Rangers.

He also claimed that all of the pressure will be on Rangers, given the expectation on them to beat an Aberdeen side who have toiled for much of the season.

‘You haven’t got time to feel sorry for yourself, if there is a moment to put it right a semi final at Hampden is that time,’ he added.

‘As a footballer you always get another chance, sometimes as a manager you don’t and what a chance it is to go to Hampden, a full house with a big support with us. It is certainly the right place to do it and we believe we can.

‘Every semi-final that I’ve been in with Motherwell and St Mirren, we were not expected to win. So I know how to motivate teams and the staff know how to get teams to believe.

‘It’s certainly an opportunity. All the pressure will be on Rangers, and the expectation will be on Rangers.’

Earlier this week, Rangers boss Derek McInnes, who spent eight years with the Dons, backed Robinson to succeed at Pittodrie if he is given time to turn it around.

‘Until you are in this position, you don’t realise how difficult things are and the parameters you have to work under, Derek obviously does,’ added Robinson.

‘I have nothing but total respect for him. He is one of the top managers in the country. Everybody wants time but you don’t get given time in football, we are all well aware of that and results are what dictates that.

‘We face a really good Rangers side. Derek’s built a really good squad, a really big, athletic, strong squad. We are coming up against a team that are in form, a team that are winning football matches.

‘We know that we have to be better than what we are. I’ve been to semi-finals before and I’ve always been the underdog. No doubt that would be exactly the same, rightly. It’s up to us to turn that around.’

On team news, Robinson added: ‘We’ve got a problem at the back, of course, that’s been well documented, with Lewis Mayo, Mats Knoester and Dan Happe. Dan is suspended, but he’s actually ill as well, so he’s got the virus.

‘Kristers Tobers has had a little bit of a setback. There’s a little bit of swelling on his knee, so he won’t be available for selection tomorrow. Chris Cadden won’t be available tomorrow either.

‘We haven’t had to seek our troubles, but again, as I always say, somebody’s misfortune is somebody else’s opportunity.

‘It’s a chance for people who maybe haven’t had opportunities, or people who haven’t been fit, to stand up and be counted. As I said, there’s no better stage than Hampden to do that.

‘It’s a mild hamstring injury (Cadden’s injury). We’re hoping he could be fit for the Hibs game, but at this early stage, it’s still very hard to say. We just know he won’t be available with the quick turnaround for Saturday.’