The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dons undaunted by back-to-back losses
Aberdeen: Manager upbeat ahead of visit by Kilmarnock
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists there is no panic at Pittodrie after back-to-back defeats in Glasgow.
The Dons have been criticised after losing to Celtic and Rangers but, as his Reds prepare for three home games in a week, McInnes believes there is no cause for alarm.
“Sometimes we can get too much praise when things go well, and sometimes the criticism can be too strong when things don’t go well,” he said.
“We’ve lost two games in Glasgow in the space of a week when we’ve gone there with high expectations, but at least we can say we are going there with those expectations now and that’s why the defeats feel so bad.
“We’ve lost to a team unbeaten at home for 31 games and we’ve lost a cup final to Celtic. There’s no huge panic to losing those two games, but it is disappointing as we expect more of ourselves and want to do better.”
McInnes shares in the disappointment of Dons supporters at seeing the Reds fail to make the most of their opportunities to beat Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday, but there is little time for his players to lick their wounds with Kilmarnock visiting Pittodrie tonight.
The Dons face a testing three games in the next seven days, with St Johnstone also visiting Pittodrie on Saturday before former Dons manager Mark McGhee’s Motherwell head north next Tuesday.
McInnes said: “Saturday was a game where we set out with a team to try to be as aggressive as we could without the ball initially and one which would give us a foothold to go and win the game.
“We did one aspect in that we didn’t give Rangers any control but we didn’t give ourselves enough opportunities in the final third and we spoke about it at half-time.
“We came out strong in the second half but we didn’t take the chance through Jayden Stockley, and then Rangers got a bit of good fortune with the ball falling for Kenny Miller.”
Niall McGinn is in contention to return for the Dons, who are without captain Ryan Jack following his red card at Ibrox on Saturday.
Killie sit sixth after the 2-0 home win over Dundee on Saturday.
Manager Lee Clark said: “We are confident after the weekend but not complacent and we know it is going to be an unbelievably tough game.