No way we will ease off the gas
GLASS KEEPS PRESSURE ON DONS AMID REVIVAL
HAVING spent two months on the road to nowhere, Aberdeen are at least heading in the right direction once again.
Home victories over Hibernian and Hearts have bookended an excellent point taken against Rangers at Ibrox. Some distance has finally been put between Stephen Glass’ side and that wretched run of ten games without a win.
As welcome as the recent change in narrative has been, the Dons boss is acutely aware of how quickly it can flip again. It will be some time before Glass proclaims that a corner has been turned.
With Motherwell in town tomorrow, the Pittodrie manager feels there’s a danger that some supporters may think that their team has done the hard part by taking seven points from a possible nine.
Neither the Aberdeen boss or his players will make any such assumptions.
‘That is imperative,’ Glass said. ‘I was getting asked a few weeks ago when we have some of the top teams coming up in Hibs, Hearts and Rangers and I was continually making sure Motherwell were included in there. We knew that finished off the period before the international break.
‘They have started the season very well. They beat us at their place.
‘We won’t be underestimating Motherwell from this side of the fence and you will see that from the players.’
For all the credit Aberdeen eventually got from coming from behind to beat Hearts last week, they made life difficult for themselves by starting sluggishly and conceding a penalty on the stroke of half-time.
Ensuring the requisite intensity in their play from the very first minute tomorrow is the prime area of improvement.
‘That is important,’ added Glass. ‘When the big games have been there, the players have shown up really well.
‘Motherwell are a tough and very capable team. If we give them the respect they deserve, you will see a top performance from the players. The response was there in the second half last week.
‘It showed you everything you need to know about this group of players as did their response the previous week (against Hibs).’
Ninth in the table when they lost at Dens Park three weeks ago, Glass’ players will rise to fifth if they can edge out Graham Alexander’s side.
With the international break then looming, an overwhelmingly positive tone would be set for the next fortnight. ‘It will define the perception of the atmosphere around the place,’ insisted Glass.
‘I think the atmosphere within here will still be fine.
‘I’m hoping that’s knocked out of the park anyway, that we go and win and everyone can say that it’s going to be a happy place to be.
‘Of course, we want to go into the break on the back of a good performance and a win but we know how hard it will be.
‘We also know what it feels like winning here on a Saturday afternoon. The boys want to feel that again.’
Christian Ramirez hasn’t yet reached the level where the international impasse means a business class flight back across the Atlantic to represent the United States.
But with nine goals to his name, the 30-year-old, who already has two international caps, certainly must be on head coach Gregg Berhalter’s radar. ‘I think any player that scores goals makes any international manager make decisions,’ added Glass.
‘Christian has been doing that. We obviously believe how good he is.
‘That’s why we brought him here. He’s proving himself to us but there’s a huge amount of competition at the top end of the park for the United States. You’ll be well aware of some of the names who play for them.
‘But he is going to be hungry to be involved in a World Cup year. Of course he is.
‘And if he keeps scoring goals, I don’t see why not.’
Supported by Marley Watkins, Ryan Hedges and, latterly, Jonny Hayes in the win over Hearts, Ramirez looked like a player who’d rediscovered his mojo.
‘I think he’s getting a lot more help from his team-mates,’ Glass offered.
‘He looks like he’s got a belief that he can score again.
‘To be fair to him, I think he was getting a lot of things pointed at him about not scoring.
‘People were adding a game on every week when he didn’t score and you get hit with that stat after every game and before the next one.
‘We’ve never lost belief in him. I don’t think he’s ever lost belief in himself either.
‘In terms of his goalscoring, he’s right up there.
‘We’ve not had a penalty kick yet — not that he takes them.
‘Some of the others who are at the top of the scoring charts have got however many penalties to their name as well.
‘We’re delighted with what he’s given us. We’re always hoping for more out of all of them.
‘I’m hoping he continues to get chances because we know how good a finisher he is.’