The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Pressure points
Premiership: Midfielder relishing chance to move 12 points clear with win at Hamilton
Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean is determined to pile the pressure on Rangers as the Dons try to extend their lead in the chase for second place in the Scottish Premiership after the 1-0 win against Ross County.
Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean is determined to pile the pressure on Rangers as the Dons try to extend their lead in the chase for second place in the Scottish Premiership.
Adam Rooney’s late goal gave Derek McInnes’ side a 1-0 win against Ross County at Pittodrie on Saturday and, crucially, the win extended Aberdeen’s lead on third-placed Rangers to nine points.
The Dons can increase the gap to 12 points with victory at Hamilton tomorrow, 24 hours before Rangers face St Johnstone at Ibrox.
McLean said: “It’s all about what we do and we have a huge incentive to go to win at Hamilton which may put pressure on them again. We have to keep focused on what we are doing as it’s working for us at the moment and long may it continue.
“We’ve shown we are worth our lead. There’s been a bit of criticism going Rangers’ way, but we’ve been excellent to a man.
“The gap is there, but we cannot take our eye off the ball at any stage and the run-in is going to be tough. Every game will be important and we’re just looking to tick them off and keep getting results.”
McLean, whose cross created the winning goal, insists Rangers’ loss at Inverness on Friday was not discussed before Saturday’s match.
He added: “Nothing was said, but I don’t think it needed to be. Last week was the opposite; we played first and we knew winning would put pressure on Rangers. This time it was the other way round and it has gone our way again which is great. But we look after ourselves. We don’t speak too much about other teams and what they are doing. We just want to get three points and if results go our way it’s ideal.”
McLean believes his side’s win, the 10th in the last 11 matches, was all the sweeter given the deteriorating Pittodrie surface. With a run of home matches to come he does not expect it to get any better.
He said: “We do what we need to do but our pitch is not great at all. We’d love to be playing on a better surface than we are here, but there’s nothing the players can do about it.
“We just have to get on with but hopefully it can be sorted one way or another as I’m sure the supporters would prefer to see us playing better football on a better surface.
“With four of the next six at home the groundsman (Paul Fiske) will be sick with the fixtures that are coming, but it’s something we have to live with.”