Reds are for real
Hartley is backing Aberdeen to lift title
PAUL HARTLEY last night declared Aberdeen the best team in the Premiership and i nsisted they can be crowned Scottish league champions for the first time since 1985.
His Dundee side were the last to beat the league leaders when they knocked Derek McInnes’ team out of the Scottish Cup in a fourth-round tie at Dens Park on November 29.
Since then, however, Aberdeen have not lost a game — or even a goal — in a run of eight straight Premiership victories that has propelled them to the top of the table.
Twice a title winner with Celtic and a f ormer Dons captain, Hartley insisted he would not be surprised if McInnes’ men become the first Pittodrie side to win the league since Alex Ferguson ruled the Granite City with an iron fist.
‘Aberdeen are the best team we have played this season — and they are top of the league on merit,’ he said.
‘Overall, as a unit, they are the best side. I’d say being a unit is their biggest strength because they don’t lose goals and they have pace, movement and a real attacking threat up front. And they have given themselves a great chance (to win the league).
‘They won’t say too much about it (being contenders). They will play it low key, try to keep it as quiet as they can. That’s within their rights but we’re nearly in February and they’re still right in there.
‘They are eight unbeaten and have had eight clean sheets behind them. Aberdeen are a terrific team and have a good chance.
‘Celtic will still be favourites but, when you look at Aberdeen, this is as good a chance as they’ll ever have.’
When Hartley won the league with Celtic as a midfielder in 2006-07 and 2007-08, each lost point was a cause for concern with Rangers breathing down the Parkhead side’s necks.
Since Rangers’ descent to the lower tiers after their financial collapse, Celtic’s players haven’t had to live with that constant pressure. Until now.
They have been forced to play catch-up on an Aberdeen side who are four points ahead but have played two games more.
‘At this stage of the season, Celtic have always had a gap between themselves and the other teams,’ said Hartley, reflecting on his own time as a star in the east end of Glasgow under Gordon Strachan’s stewardship.
‘So we’ll see how they are able to cope with it now. Celtic have games in hand — but you have to win them. It’s up to Celtic now to try to catch Aberdeen.
‘I don’t think many people would have expected Aberdeen to be four points in front at this stage. But it’s great for Scottish football that Aberdeen, Dundee United and Inverness are still in there.
‘ People thought this season would be really boring and that the Championship would be the competitive league instead. But Hearts are running away with it and it’s in our league where there’s real competition now.’
Hartley’s men have the arduous task of preventing Aberdeen from making it nine consecutive wins when Dundee travel to Pittodrie tomorrow afternoon.
But if the visitors are to upset the odds — and give Celtic the perfect ‘welcome home’ present after returning from their training camp in Gran Canaria this week — they must do so without a host of injured first-team players. Most likely including David Clarkson, whose winning goal in the 2-1 Cup victory was the last time Aberdeen goalkeeper Scott Brown picked a ball out of his net.
‘We have a number of players injured,’ said Hartley, whose team have stuttered of late but will be looking to build on last Saturday’s encouraging 4-1 Premiership win over Ian Baraclough’s Motherwell at Dens Park.
‘Gary Irvine has a rib injury, so has James McPake, and Simon Ferry is still out,’ added Hartley.
‘Paul McGowan is suspended and David Clarkson has rolled his ankle. He’s touch and go at best.
‘Craig Wighton’s loan (at Brechin) ends after tomorrow’s game, so we will look at that and see what we’re going to do there.
‘But I’d like to bring in two or three more to boost the numbers.
‘I would like players in the middle of the park and maybe another striker.’