Shinnie: I don’t think we’ve ever been in eighth since I arrived
For years, Aberdeen have seen off every contender in the battle for second place.
But Graeme Shinnie reckons the Dons have more rivals than ever this time around – including Kilmarnock.
Killie have been transformed into one of the Premiership’s mostconsistent outfits since Steve Clark’s appointment as manager just over a year ago.
Their terrific form from last season has continued into the current campaign.
For Aberdeen skipper Shinnie, that makes them dangerous opponents today at Rugby Park – and genuine rivals for the rest of the season.
“We have to see them as that, especially when you look at what they did last season and how they’ve carried it on,” said the Dons star.
“They were very good against us earlier in the season, albeit we went down to 10 men.
“They’ll be a team who’s there to stay, though.
“It’s not just a good start, I think they’ll be up there challenging, so today’s is a game we’re desperate to win.”
Aberdeen may be further down the table than they have been used to, but they are still well in touch, just a couple of wins adrift of today’s opponents.
A consistent run of victories is required for them to start climbing the league – and Shinnie hopes the two they have claimed in the last week can provide a springboard.
“We’re hoping for that coming off the back of such a good win over Rangers last weekend,” he said.
“The hype and the momentum from that, you want to carry it on.
“We dealt with the Hamilton game well off the back of the semi-final, and now we move on to another tough game.
“But we need to start winning these games.”
Consistency of selection will be an important factor in putting wins together for the Dons.
But after an injury-ravaged first few months of the season, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“That definitely helps,” he said. “Apart from Andy Considine’s head knock, we had the same team in midweek, which we’ve struggled to do this season with injuries. It was defenders first, then the front players.
“It was hard to get a proper run, but now the gaffer has most of the squad to pick from, it sets us up well to put a string of wins together.
“Even Celtic have needed that. When we played them in Glasgow, we had a really good chance in the game and the loss was frustrating, when we deserved at least a draw.
“But they were in a sticky position, the same as we were at that point, not hitting the heights they’re used to.
“But they’ve found momentum. We’re similar, we need to put wins together.”
A third consecutive victory would offer hope that the Dons are, at last, stepping up their game.
With the middle of the table so bunched-up, that is the only way for them to match the standard they have set over the last four seasons.
“It’s really tight,” said Shinnie.
“It was weird though. We came off the park against Hamilton having won 3-0 and someone said to me: ‘We’re still in eighth place’.
“When you hear that, it sounds weird. I don’t think I’ve ever been in eighth place since I got here.
“We did have a rocky patch one season where it took us until about the November to kick on and have a run.
“But it’s strange. There are teams who have started the season so well, like Livingston and Killie, and they’re the teams we now have to look to catch and overtake.
“You automatically think when you see where we are in the table that it’s not a great position.
“But we’re only two wins away from Killie, so gaining three points on them has to be our target.”