Aberdeen V Kilmarnock at Pittodrie Stadium : Match Preview

11 March 2016 17:34
Aberdeen V Kilmarnock - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Aberdeen wait on Niall McGinn and Barry Robson ahead of Kilmarnock clash

Aberdeen midfielders Niall McGinn and Barry Robson are doubtful for the Ladbrokes Premiership clash with Kilmarnock.

McGinn missed the midweek win over Partick Thistle with a foot injury while Robson went off late on with a knock.

Peter Pawlett (broken arm) and striker Adam Rooney (thigh) remain on the sidelines for a match which could see Aberdeen take over at the top of the table if Celtic slip up at Partick.

Dons manager Derek McInnes, whose side have played a game more than Celtic, said of his side's title bid: "We were a penalty-kick decision against St Johnstone away from sitting here top of the league, so it would be foolish to think we weren't in a fight. We intend to make the most of the nine games.

"But you can't get ahead of yourself, the first job is against Kilmarnock. We have a big enough job getting over them and we want to win it."

Former Dons title-winners Mark McGhee and Neale Cooper both talked up the team's chances this week but McInnes is not concerned that such talk could add pressure to his players.

"Firstly, there is no pressure," he said. "We are loving every minute of it.

"The dressing room is as relaxed as it has been all season. There's good stability in there, a tightness, a good spirit, but totally relaxed.

"Whether it's people saying we are not good enough or saying we are good enough, it doesn't really affect us.

"It's nice when you have two respected people in Mark and Neale suggesting we are good enough, but if they said we weren't good enough, it wouldn't hamper us in any way. We are quite single-minded in what we do here."

Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark believes the title race could come down to a head to head between top two Aberdeen and Celtic.

But he has warned the Dons that his side are just as determined to take three points from their Pittodrie meeting.

Killie's need for points is just as great given their position in the relegation play-off spot and Clark is in no mind to play for a draw against Aberdeen, who scored two goals in three minutes to overcome Partick on Tuesday and move a point behind Celtic.

Clark, who is without several players including David Syme and Steven Smith, said: "I've been impressed, they've got a lot of momentum. They have a lot of tools in the box in terms of knowing how to win games.

"They can win games by playing good football. They have got a lot of experienced players who understand what it takes to win, they can win by grinding out results like they did at Partick.

"They have some terrific players but we are going there with no fear.

"They've got to win matches as much as we do. They will have a bit of pressure on them, as we do.

"We have got to go there with a strong game-plan defensively but we also have to be productive when we have the ball and make chances because we need to win football matches and we need to start scoring goals."

Clark was in the Newcastle team that challenged Manchester United for titles in the mid-1990s and he recognises Aberdeen are on a roll.

"Momentum is huge in any sport, when you are on a winning one and you are finding different ways to win matches, it's a great feeling for a manager," Clark said.

"This is the closest the title race has been for many years. It's all dependent on how Celtic respond to the challenge.

"It's an exciting one for the neutral and it could come down to whoever wins when they come face to face."


Source: PAR