The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Avenue to glory
fantastic signing. He is a good lad around the dressing-room, too. Hopefully, we can keep him until the end of the season.”
The Dons travel to New Douglas Park to face Martin Canning’s Hamilton tonight ahead of Saturday’s eagerly anticipated encounter with leaders Celtic at Pittodrie. Lewis added: “All the games we are playing have the same amount of points up for grabs.
“So, Hamilton is just as important as Celtic at the weekend. You can’t look further ahead than your next league game. We have to approach Hamilton the same way we’ll approach Celtic, with the same enthusiasm and work ethic. But we do that anyway, we have a mentally strong group and we’re focused.
“Right now we are going into every game thinking we can win, but we’re not overconfident.
“We have won six games in a row but we want more, we want seven then eight and so on. We’re not complacent because we can get better.” Hamilton manager Martin Canning is pleased with the way his 10th-placed team has played this season and insists the Premiership table is not a fair reflection of their performances.
The Lanarkshire men have managed just one victory in the league this season but have come close to maximum points on five other occasions before settling for draws.
That cruel luck has left the Accies languishing just two points above lastplaced Dundee and Canning accepts his players will have to sharpen up in front of goal if they want to move up the standings.
Canning, pictured below, said: “I’d say we are in a false position based on how we have played in games and the opportunities we have created.
“That’s just the way it is, though. I’m pretty sure if you were to ask the other sides at the bottom they will say the same thing. Kilmarnock played well but lost a late equaliser at the weekend, so did Partick.
“The league is just so tight that one moment in a game seems to swing things.
“The three points are so crucial, so we need to start turning the draws into wins.
“I’m not worried about a lack of goals because we have scored in every league game so far. But, while we’ve taken one chance, we’ve not gone on and taken a second or a third sometimes.
“In the last two away games against Motherwell and Partick Thistle we’ve had 44 attempts at goal but scored just four times. I think that proves there is not a lot wrong.”
Canning will need to muster all the extra firepower he can when Accies host Aberdeen tonight.
Derek McInnes’ Dons are in jubilant mood after booking their place in next month’s Betfred Cup final against Celtic with their victory against Morton in Saturday’s Hampden semifinal.
“Aberdeen are a top team, with quality all over the park,” Canning said. “Regardless of what happened on Saturday, they would be a threat.
“They have won two games by 4-0 then got themselves into a cup final on Saturday, so they will come here full of belief.
“This is the strongest squad Derek has had since he moved to Aberdeen. They have match-winners.
“We feel we have guys who can hurt them, too.
“Guys like Ali Crawford have caused teams problems this season. Alex D’Acol is playing well, while Eammon Brophy scored last week, so, hopefully, we can come out on top.”
“Aberdeen are a top team, with quality all over the park”