Leven wants Dons to let their quality shine
Peter Leven wants Aberdeen players to perform without pressure as they go into their cinch Premiership game against fellow strugglers Ross County still without a manager.
It was expected that the Dons would appoint a new boss during the international break following the departure of interim manager Neil Warnock following the 3-1 Scottish Gas Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock at Pittodrie on March 9.
However, Aberdeen chief executive Alan Burrows this week admitted that would not happen and revealed that first-team coach Leven, who was installed as caretaker again for the defeat against Dundee and the win over Motherwell before the international break, would again take the reins for the crunch game against the Staggies at Pittodrie today.
The Dons are sitting in ninth place, three points ahead of County in the relegation play-off place, and Leven wants his players to let their quality shine.
He said: “The players have been really positive this week, they have been great in training, worked really hard, good attitude and everybody is in really good spirits. I’ve tried to take the pressure off of them. Pressure can blur your football vision. We have got very good football players in this team.
“We’ve got to bring that tomorrow. Yes, they’ve got to work hard, that is the fundamentals of this club. They’re good footballers and I’ve got to make sure they’re ready for that.
“We have focused on where we can hurt them, how we can get better from the Motherwell game. I thought we played really well against Motherwell, but I would also like to see how we can get better and how we can stop the opposition from hurting us. We’ve worked on a lot of that
“It’s a big game. Ross County are right behind us, but also we’re looking up as well. We got a great three points against Motherwell in the last game. So we’ve just got to keep that momentum going.
“It will be a tough game. Work rate is first and foremost. You’ve got to out-work the opposition and then bring your quality. Hopefully our fans will push us through as well.
“We always need our fans. They have been brilliant here. Away from home they travel in their numbers and at home they have been fantastic. I need them to push us.
“Obviously, I’m just focused on Saturday and then we’ll see what happens next week.”
Meanwhile, Ross County interim manager Don Cowie has urged his players to continue their recent approach as they prepare to travel to Aberdeen.
Cowie has brought stability to County following a brief and turbulent spell under Derek Adams.
The Dingwall side have secured two wins and two draws from their past five cinch Premiership games and can draw level on points with the Dons on today if they win at Pittodrie.
Cowie said: “I said on day one how important it is that both the team and the fans are together, and are united.
“When you’re a supporter of a football club you want to see your team giving their all.
“Obviously they also want results – but when they see the players giving their best they’ll buy into it – and I think that’s what they have seen in the last few weeks.”