Time for Dons to be the real deal
TWO games against Motherwell last season fed into this belief that Aberdeen, for all their success in reaching cup finals and securing two successive second-place finishes in the league, lack bottle.
At home in October 2015, they had a chance to go back ahead of Celtic at the top of the Premiership. They drew 1-1 and needed keeper Danny Ward to prevent a fifth successive defeat.
At Fir Park the following March, a 2-1 loss effectively saw them raise the white flag in the title race. In truth, they blew several chances to put greater pressure on a Celtic side so one-dimensional that even their own season-ticket holders were refusing to turn up and watch by the end.
Motherwell are back at Pittodrie in midweek. It is a match which Aberdeen, stronger than at any point in Derek McInnes’ reign, should regard as a potential turning point in this frustrating battle to show they are the real deal.
Whilst it would mean little in terms of Europe and maybe only £300,000 extra in prize money, finishing second ahead of Rangers, given the differences in budget, would be both symbolic and a real achievement.
Beating Motherwell would establish a three-point gap. One look at their fixtures ahead of the 33-game split — with no further meetings with Celtic and both Rangers and Hearts having to travel to Pittodrie — suggests they are at a real advantage.
McInnes seems sick of fielding questions about his team’s resilience. They can now be answered once and for all.