The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Pressure will be off Dons
Premiership: McGinn says new Rangers boss is under intense scrutiny
Niall McGinn believes Aberdeen could benefit from the hype which will surround Steven Gerrard when he takes charge of Rangers for the first time at Pittodrie.
Premiership fixtures released yesterday morning revealed that the former Liverpool and England captain will take his new charges to the Granite City on Sunday August 5.
McGinn spoke of his excitement at the prospect of what will be a new-look Light Blues side taking on a Dons team which has been second to Celtic in the last four seasons.
The 30-year-old said: “It might be a good thing for ourselves.
“Everyone will be concentrating on Rangers and Steven Gerrard’s first game of the season.
“So, it can probably be only a good thing for us. We will just concentrate on ourselves. There probably won’t be too much hype around us, as there usually is, so we will go about our own business.
“There is no bigger game for an Aberdeen fan than to come up against Rangers in the first game of the season.
“It is an exciting one and I am sure the boys are all delighted with the news. There is no better way to start the season.”
The match between the Dons and Rangers will kick- off at 1pm and be screened live on Sky Sports.
The Dons will then travel to Dens Park to take on Dundee on August 11 before visiting Hibernian on August 25.
Aberdeen’s first match against last season’s champions Celtic will be on September 29 at Celtic Park.
The second meeting of the season between Aberdeen and Rangers will take place at Ibrox on December 5, with Gerrard’s side returning to Pittodrie on February 2.
Champions Celtic start the season with a home match against Livingston, while Hibs take on Motherwell and St Mirren host Dundee. Also on the opening weekend, Kilmarnock take on St Johnstone and Hamilton meet Hearts.
“It might be good. Everyone will be concentrating on Rangers”