The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Reynolds insists Dons have what it takes
Aberdeen: Defender remains undaunted despite defeat by Rangers
Aberdeen defender Mark Reynolds insists his side has the resolve and the qualities to hold off the challenge of Rangers and Hearts for second place in the Premiership.
The Dons lost 2-1 to the Light Blues at Ibrox on Saturday in a frantic game where both teams ended the match with 10 men.
The loss means Aberdeen remain in fourth place, five points behind Mark Warburton’s side.
The Dons have two games in hand on their rivals. The first is at Pittodrie against Kilmarnock tomorrow.
Reynolds said: “It is going to be tough, but we have the experience of being up there for a few seasons now and I’m confident as we have players who will ensure we push on.
“Last season all the talk was Aberdeen couldn’t beat Celtic, but we beat them twice. We have answered questions about our character plenty of times.
“We’ve got quality right through the squad and it will show this month where we have to play eight games.
“We’ve got goals in the side and on our day we have the pace which no team can live with, but the important bit is trying to produce it consistently.”
Aberdeen’s performance at Ibrox was a huge improvement on their poor display against Celtic in the Betfred Cup final at Hampden last Sunday, but Reynolds was frustrated to come away from Glasgow with nothing to show.
There was little in the first half and Aberdeen missed the best chance of the match three minutes after the break when an unmarked Jayden Stockley headed wide from six yards.
But Rangers dug out the win after Kenny Miller converted Joe Garner’s deflected cross four minutes later.
Lee Hodson, who was in for James Tavernier, lashed home the second with 20 minutes left and a home victory was never much in doubt as Andrew Considine did not pull a goal back until the closing seconds.