Docherty has faith in Dons’ class of 2017

Aberdeen assistant manager Tony Docherty believes the Dons can register their first league win at Celtic Park in 13 years today.

A Dons side has not returned north with maximum points from Parkhead since October 2004 when Jimmy Calderwood masterminded a 3-2 victory against the Hoops.

But Docherty says the class of 2017 is not weighed down by the club’s poor record at Parkhead and will take to the field with confidence after last Saturday’s 4-1 win against Hibernian.

He said: “I don’t think we look too deeply into that. We have built up some momentum over our last three performances.

“The boys are displaying a lot of confidence in their performances and in training and we want that to continue.

“We realise it is going to take a performance similar to the one we produced in last season’s Scottish Cup final to get a result.

“We will also need that bit of luck as well and a top Aberdeen performance. But we aren’t looking at records or stats. We know if we are at our best then we have every chance of picking up three points.”

The Hoops bounced back from last Sunday’s 4-0 defeat by Hearts with a 2-0 midweek success against Partick Thistle.

When asked if the Dons will bid to replicate Hearts’ high-pressing tactics, Docherty replied: “I don’t think it will just be Hearts we are referring to but I have to give Hearts a lot of credit.

“Their energy levels, pressing and organisation was fantastic.

“We have watched other opposition against Celtic, as we always do. We have looked at their previous five games for any patterns that are there.

“We have got to realise what Celtic are but, like any team, they have weaknesses. We have to try to exploit their weaknesses while also dealing with their strengths.

“We do our homework for every game and Celtic is no different.

“This is a big game, it is first against second in the league.

“We have worked on the structure we are going to have to put into operation to take maximum points.”