Glass calls on Dons to take advantage of tight fight at top of the table

Boss Stephen Glass has challenged Aberdeen to take advantage of the cutthroat Premiership to continue their climb up the table.

Glass reckons the top flight is so competitive this season that teams are struggling to build winning momentum.

He wants the Reds to capitalise by delivering a winning run to rocket up the league. Back to back wins elevated in-form Aberdeen into the top six.

Now Glass is gunning for the teams above before the Premiership winter break in early January.

Aberdeen are just four points behind fourthplaced Dundee United and nine behind Hearts in third.

Glass said: “We have seen any time a team wins some games they jump up the league pretty quickly. The nature of the league this season is there are teams losing regularly and a lot of teams drawing.

“If you can get three points on the board week on week you do find yourself quickly climbing up the table.

“That has been the aim throughout this block of fixtures until January 2 (winter break).

“If we can do that we will be happy – but we know the challenge.”

Aberdeen travel to St Johnstone today, bidding to secure three successive Premiership wins for the first time since September last year.

The Reds made home advantage count by defeating St Mirren 4-1 and Livingston 2-0.

Now Glass has urged his side to take maximum points from an away double header against Saints and then Hibs on Wednesday December 22.

He said: “We had a couple of home games when we were looking for six points. Now we have a couple of away games in a row and there are six points available.

“It will be brilliant to come out of those with that as well.

“We know it will be difficult but if we can keep the momentum rolling we will be in a good position for coming back to Pittodrie.”

Aberdeen have won five of nine Premiership games at Pittodrie this season, drawing one and losing three.

A return of 16 points from 27 is the fourth best home record in the Scottish top flight this season.

However, on the road the Dons have won just once in eight Premiership fixtures, drawing twice.

A return of five points from 24 is the third worst in the league, level with bottom club Ross County and one ahead of Dundee.

Aberdeen are set to welcome back left-back Jack MacKenzie from an ankle injury for the trip to St Johnstone.

MacKenzie, 21, has played just 45 minutes in the last eight games due to injury.

Teenage right-back Calvin Ramsay is ruled out for the game in Perth with a thigh injury. However Glass confirmed the 18-year-old is ‘getting closer’ to a return.

Scotland international centre-back Declan Gallagher returned from a six-game injury lay-off when he was an unused substitute against St Mirren last weekend.

Stephen Glass says Reds need to build momentum.