WRITE DONS OFF AT YOUR PERIL, WARNS CONSIDINE

ANDREW CONSIDINE insists Aberdeen will relish the challenge of forcing their way into this season’s title race — and silencing those prepared to write them off. Currently lying seventh — and seven points behind today’s opponents Hearts — the Dons’ slow start has left talk of a potential challenge to Celtic concentrated on Rangers and the Edinburgh clubs. Considine, however, draws belief from the experience Aberdeen have earned through claiming four successive runners-up finishes. And, while expectations might be mounting elsewhere, the 31-year-old defender is confident they can again make their presence felt at the sharp end of the table. Asked if he expected to be underestimated, Considine replied: ‘Yeah, pretty much. But at the same time I enjoy having that pressure and I think the boys in the changing room enjoy having that pressure of having to finish second. ‘As we’ve seen already this year, with how well the Edinburgh clubs are doing, Aberdeen seem to be having a stuttering start with this, that and the next thing. ‘It would be great to prove them all wrong again. Last year was the perfect example. Rangers were going to be the ones who finished second, if not win the league. ‘Yes, it came to the final day, but we managed to do it. If it came down to that again, then I’m sure we could do it. ‘It’s the expectation of playing at this club — and the fans expect to be fighting for first place. That’s what Aberdeen Football Club is all about. ‘We’ve done so well over the past five years, we’ve put ourselves on that pedestal and we need to produce that year in, year out. ‘The league is stronger this year. We lost some players in the summer but we’ve strengthened well. ‘If we can keep everyone fit, and we seem to have been hit by a lot of injuries so far, we can be up the top again.’ Considine admits another runners-up finish would be regarded as their best yet, reflecting the more competitive picture that has emerged over the first eight rounds of Premiership fixtures. ‘The league is a lot tougher this year, definitely,’ he said. ‘If we were to finish second again this year, it would be a great triumph to be honest.’ A positive result against Hearts would represent the best possible start to climbing the table. And the perfect boost for Derek McInnes’s squad ahead of next weekend’s Betfred Cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden. ‘The (international) break came at the wrong time,’ added Considine. ‘We were showing signs of some good play and hopefully we can implement that on Saturday.’