McKenna desperate to beat Rangers

SCOTT McKENNA last night called for a landmark Aberdeen performance against Rangers on Tuesday night.

After back-to-back post-split victories over Kilmarnock and Hearts, the Dons’ hard-earned point against Hibs means they go into an Old Firm double header in pole position to finish second for the fourth successive season.

The trouble is that for all the marked consistency of Derek McInnes’s team, they have failed to take a solitary point from either Glasgow club this season.

Regardless of what happens at Pittodrie, McKenna’s season will end on Tuesday night as he is suspended for the trip to Celtic Park next week.

And the 21-year-old Scotland international intends to go out with a bang.

‘It would be great to finish the season on a high,’ he said. ‘I’m gutted that I’m suspended for the Celtic game but, hopefully, we can get the business done on Tuesday and I’ll have played my part.

‘It’s all about righting wrongs because we haven’t performed well enough against Rangers this season. We need to go out and get that win on Tuesday night and silence a few people.

‘With the point against Hibs today, it keeps us in second place and Rangers only one point behind. It will be a great atmosphere and I hope the game is sold out.’

There were almost 18,000 packed into Pittodrie yesterday, with a noisy Hibs contingent of more than 2,000 contributing to a raucous atmosphere.

With Rangers taking a shot in the arm from the appointment of Steven Gerrard as manager to beat Kilmarnock yesterday, there is likely to be an even greater edge in midweek and McKenna wants to reward the home fans with a night to remember.

Win and the Dons will have qualified for European football, but McKenna knows the value in finishing as high up the table as possible. Barring a Motherwell victory over Celtic in the Scottish Cup final, the runners-up spot will secure an extended break.

‘There are massive benefits in finishing second,’ he added. ‘There’s the potential of having an extra week off.

‘The last three years we’ve had only three weeks off, so the chance this summer to get four or five would make a big difference for the boys in terms of recovery.

‘The manager has talked about being able to plan a proper pre-season rather than it being rushed.

‘If we win on Tuesday, then it puts us into a great position for the Celtic game.

‘We have that belief. We’ve now kept three clean sheets in a row and we must keep that going while trying to put the ball in the net at the other end.’

Aberdeen will have Kenny McLean back for Rangers’ visit after the midfielder missed out yesterday through suspension. McInnes believes the Dons midfield missed McLean’s composure as they struggled to break down Hibs.

‘It’s the old fire-and-ice adage — we had that industry to get after the opposition but not the composure,’ said the manger. ‘That’s what Kenny brings.

‘It’s very unusual that ourselves, Hibs and Rangers can all finish second, but it’s in our hands. A win on Tuesday would secure European football, which is the first box to try to tick.’

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Hamilton midfielder Lewis Ferguson has committed to a pre-contract agreement that will see him arrive at Pittodrie in the summer.

‘We can’t always get readymade players but we can identify good youngsters,’ said McInnes.

‘Lewis is one I’ve liked for a while. He played against us for Hamilton’s development teams. We found out a few weeks ago that he’d failed to negotiate a deal to re-sign at Hamilton, so we took advantage of the fact he was moving on.’