The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
May calls for one final big push before break
ABERDEEN: Striker hails Dons fitness during hectic December schedule
Aberdeen striker Stevie May has called for one last effort from his side at Livingston when the weary Dons play their ninth and final game of a hectic December tomorrow.
Aberdeen are fourth in the Scottish Premiership following a run of five wins and two defeats in their last seven matches in a month which began with the League Cup final defeat by Celtic at Hampden.
The Dons’ five-match winning run was brought to an end by the Hoops who won a thrilling Boxing Day encounter at Pittodrie 4-3 and with his side set to play the final game before the winter break May knows it is important his team bounces back.
He said: “Livingston is going to be a tough game. It’s a hard place to go, especially with the astroturf pitch. We’ve got to put our full focus on that for the rest of the week and get ready. We’ve had a really successful December. Picking up some points against Celtic would have been nicer but it wasn’t to be and now we need to focus on Livingston.
“They’re a real tough side and we’re going to have to work hard for the points which we did the last time we played. We’ll look at that game again and do our research and prepare the best we can.”
Despite the gruelling schedule of matches and the squad being stretched due to injuries May believes his club is heading into 2019 in good shape.
He said: “Mentally, it’s good. All the boys would agree that it’s good to have the games. Sometimes fatigue can kick in a little bit quicker than if you’re playing week to week, so it’s definitely more punishing.
“But I think we’ve dealt with it well and have been looking stronger than the opposition at the end of games. Considering we’ve had the most games as well, it’s a real credit to our fitness.
“Considering the squad, and it is a bit thin at the minute, I think it’s a credit to the team and the manager the way we’ve played. I really think we’ve kicked on in December.”
May is optimistic about his side’s prospects for the second half of the campaign but there was no escaping the disappointment felt by Wednesday’s loss.
He said: “It’s tough to take. For large spells of the game, we did a lot of things right and there is a lot of positives to take, but it’s just disappointing how the game ended.”