It’s 31 years for Dons to get one over Gers
focus on ourselves and trying to be the best team we can.”
The war of words between both camps has cranked up the temperature ahead of tonight’s Ibrox clash. Aberdeen can make an early statement of intent for next term but Rooney doesn’t see it that way.
He said: “I don’t think we need to lay down any markers.
“Naturally we want to go and win but that is no different to any other game. We go there confident and looking to get the three points.
“We have done that in recent seasons because we have been questioned on every big occasion by different managers and the media and always risen to it and done as best a job as we can as a group. We’ll look to win there and against Partick Thistle before we finish with a big game in the Scottish Cup Final.”
Second place is safe regardless of tonight’s result thanks to a vastly superior goal difference. But the Red Army don’t see this as any other match, not when they haven’t beaten Gers at Ibrox in 41 games spanning 26 years – one of the longest and most painful winless streaks in Scottish football.
But Rooney, who played down south in between leaving Inverness in 2011 and joining Aberdeen three years later, said: “Someone asked me about going to Ibrox because we’ve not won there in 26 years. I have only gone to Ibrox once since I came back up here. Hopefully we can go and get the win.
“We went to Glasgow a couple of seasons ago and beat Celtic at Celtic Park. We are capable of doing it but it is difficult – as teams have found coming to Aberdeen.
“We will go looking to get the win, especially if we can play like we did in the last 80 minutes the other day against Celtic. Hopefully we will get a better start though.”
The Pittodrie side were sunk by three late goals when Rangers won in the Granite City last month.
Dons boss McInnes would love to shatter the unwanted record in Govan but insists Aberdeen have more on their plate with a Hampden cup final on the horizon.
He said: “We beat ourselves a bit in the last game against Rangers.
“It does show you the need for concentration because they have good players and can take advantage of certain situations.
“I don’t think there has been a lot in the last three games. What happened last time is a reminder of the need for full concentration and taking more of your chances when they come along.” ABERDEEN aim to complete a double whammy tonight by ending their Ibrox hoodoo and smashing 31 years of hurt by topping Rangers.
The Dons travel to Glasgow with their atrocious Govan record of no wins in 43 games – 41 against Rangers – covering 12,900 miles hanging around their neck.
Derek McInnes’s side need a point to guarantee second place in the Premiership – although they’d still have a six-point gap and a vastly superior goal difference with two games left if they lost.
And confirmation of the runners-up spot will see McInnes become the first Aberdeen manager in 31 years to finish above Rangers when both teams were in the same league.
In season 1985-86 Alex Ferguson’s side finished fourth in the Premier Division but were still nine points ahead of the fifth-placed Light Blues.
It was Fergie’s last full term in charge at Pittodrie.
The following season saw the arrival of Graeme Souness and the departure of Ferguson to Manchester United.
And for the next 26 seasons in a row Rangers finished above Aberdeen before the Glasgow giants spent four campaigns in the lower leagues after going into liquidation in 2012.
I am sure the gaffer will add a number of bodies in the summer ADAM ROONEY ‘Caixinha is wrong about Aberdeen’s cycle coming to an end but he is the one who should be getting on his bike’
Gretna who went from non-league to Europe in four years? He needs to get his facts right if he’s going to quote them.”
said: “I am alarmed Clint Hill’s leaving Rangers at the end of season as there are several others who need shifting before him. Danny Wilson looked great with a proper centre-back in the shape of Davie Weir alongside him but has been well and truly found out after his short spell at Liverpool. He hasn’t made the grade.
“James Tavernier has also had a bad season and seems totally disinterested in some matches.
“Caixhina should be concentrating on making Rangers great again, not making comments about other teams.”
said: “Someone needs to buy Pedro a calculator as he’ll need one to try to figure out how many points Rangers will be behind Celtic and Aberdeen next season.
“He’s also out of order by trying to tap other players when the season is still going on.”
The spending power of Celtic compared to other Scottish clubs was up for debate.
said: “Christopher Currie mentioned the financial disparity between Celtic and the top sides in the EPL and says that with the same resources available it wouldn’t be long before they were challenging the top six.
“Sorry, but a financial disparity between Celtic and the rest of the Scottish Premiership exists and with the same resources available it would only be a matter of time that all the rest of the Premiership would be challenging for the title. The financial disparity is why the rest of us aren’t enamoured by Celtic’s potential of going unbeaten domestically.”
said: “I’m fed up reading all of these people trying to put down Celtic’s achievements this season. If Celtic weren’t in the Premiership then Aberdeen would win the Treble and that’s the true order of Scottish football.” CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY FROM 11 TILL 12 NOON on: 0141 309 3306 or email us: hotline@dailyrecord.co.uk