McInnes still eyes third spot despite Dons slump

DEREK MCINNES says that third place is still very much up for grabs, despite Aberdeen’s second defeat to Celtic in 10 days.

With current third-placed side Hibernian also losing to Motherwell, the gap between the Dons and the Easter Road side remains at four points, with Aberdeen having played a game more.

Despite a dismal run of form from his side and just one goal scored over their last eight games, McInnes believes that they will be ready to meet the challenge of overhauling Hibs when they get stuck into their post-split fixtures.

“It was on regardless of results today,” McInnes said. “Post-split games is where it is always sorts itself out.

“We now have two games, Hamilton at home and Dundee United where it is important that we try to get winning performances, then we can go into the post-split games where we can be relevant.

“We owe Celtic one, we need to deal with them at Pittodrie and we need to play Hibs at Pittodrie again.

“We need to make sure the next two games really decide the relevance of the post-split games.

“There is nobody in our dressing room thinks third place is beyond us.”

McInnes felt his men were hard done by for the second time in quick succession at Celtic Park, as their dismal record at the venue continued.

“I’m disappointed because I thought the performance like the other night was deserving of something from the game,” he said.

“The last six games at Celtic Park I think we have lost 1-0 three times, drew 0-0, lost 2-1 and won 1-0, very tight matches.

“We were just wanting to be the team that came out on the other side of a tight match today and we had enough chances to make that happen and we haven’t.”