Facing Gers is best game I’ve played in
O’Connor was stunned by the rivalry when Ibrox men pitched up at Pittodrie cauldron
ANTHONY O’CONNOR heard all the hype and quickly learned a couple of fixtures get circled on the Dons fans’ calendars.
But nothing really prepared the defender for Aberdeen v Rangers at a packed Pittodrie.
O’Connor has played in FA Cup ties and play-offs in England but it was the Granite City square-go between these bitter old rivals that blew him away the most.
He insisted the last-gasp 2-1 win against Rangers in September was the best he had ever experienced.
With so much at stake he is convinced Sunday’s second-place showdown in the north could be cranked up to another level.
The Dons have the “best of the rest” tag within their grasp but Rangers are determined to prise a few fingers off and keep the chase alive going into the split.
The clash is heading for a 20,000 sellout and O’Connor can’t wait to get stuck in at a packed Pittodrie.
He said: “In terms of atmosphere and stuff the Rangers game here at the start of the season was the best I have played in.
“It was unbelievable. I have never experienced anything like it – even playing at Celtic in front of more than 50,000.
“But here against Rangers with the hype and rivalry was massive. It was a great day getting the winner in the last minute. We couldn’t have won it in a better way.
“Sunday could be completely different. Their players are more or less fighting for their futures with the manager.
“They will want to put in a performance to show they should be at this massive club. But we will be there saying ‘You are not going to be catching us.’”
It might have been lost in the wash this season due to Celtic’s march to the title but Aberdeen are having a special campaign of their own.
They are well on course to finish with even more points than in the last two seasons – despite being told it would be tougher with Hearts and then Rangers back on the scene.
They reached the League Cup Final only to be hit by a Parkhead steamroller and will face Hibs in the last four of the Scottish Cup. The numbers are impressive with Derek McInnes’s side winning 15 of their last 17 games.
Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha arrived a month ago with the vow to cut the gap on the Dons – but instead it’s got wider.
O’Connor said: “Celtic have won the league and there is nothing we can do about that. We are next and everybody is looking at us and trying to catch us. It galvanises us to try to win again.
“We want people to be looking at our results every weekend and saying they have won again and they are not letting up at all. We don’t want to give anyone encouragement.
“I don’t think teams have been able to put in great performances because they can see us pulling away all the time.
“The gaffer is on to us every week saying don’t give anyone encouragement. We can’t let up and that is rubbing off on everyone in the team.
“Every day in training everyone has a smile on their faces. Everyone gets on well and that shows on the pitch because we are all fighting for one another.
“When you see your team-mates fighting for you it galvanises you to try to win the game, not only for the fans but for your team-mates because we are all putting in a real shift.
“We are only as good as our last game and we need to put a shift in again on Sunday.”