Andrew Considine: Whole Aberdeen team need to chip in with goals
Andrew Considine admits it is time the rest of the Aberdeen line-up chipped in to help take the pressure off the Dons' shot-shy strikers.
After ending last season with back-to-back blanks, Derek McInnes' men have not managed to score a goal in their opening two Ladbrokes Premiership fixtures this campaign.
They also crashed out of the Europa League after failing to make the most of their chances against Slovenians Maribor, going down 2-1 on aggregate.
But defender Considine believes it is not only the likes of Adam Rooney, Niall McGinn and Jayden Stockley who should be shouldering the burden of scoring the Reds' goals.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's visit of Partick Thistle, he told the club's official website: "The goals will come. Seeing the quality of the forward players we have, it is only a matter of time.
"In training there are goals going in left right and centre. Not just from the forwards.
"It is important to remember that we all need to chip in with goals. We have to try and do our bit when we are up for corners or free kicks."
Thankfully for McInnes, his back-line has proved to be just as effective as the defences his strikers have been coming up against.
They have opened their league campaign with goalless draws against St Johnstone and Hearts and Considine is taking heart from those clean sheets.
He said: "During the pre-season training we worked hard on our defending and have done a few things differently on the training field to hopefully make us better defensively.
"Everyone at the back looks really confident. Everyone's game looks to be where it needs to be.
Partick captain Abdul Osman insists his side will shrug off their Betfred Cup exit to Dundee United to focus on their quest for a top-half finish this season.
The Jags started the league campaign with a 2-0 home win over Inverness but were brought back to earth when they were beaten 3-1 in the last 16 of the cup by the Championship outfit last week.
Thistle had the weekend off as Celtic postponed their fixture against the Firhill outfit to play in the International Champions Cup against Barcelona in Limerick.
Partick's return to league duty brings a match against the Dons, who started their league season with goalless draws against St Johnstone and Hearts - results which gives midfielder Osman more encouragement as he looks to improve on last season's ninth-place finish.
The 29-year-old former Crewe player said: "It is going to be a tough game but we started well in the league so we will go into it full of confidence.
"We are not going to let last Tuesday's game affect us.
"It is a league game and Aberdeen haven't really scored a lot of goals. We have scored two goals already so we should be going there confident.
"We can't be going there low on confidence, otherwise it will be a tough day for us.
"We still have to push for the top six this season. Whether we are going to make it or not, we are going to try."
Despite the Dons' slow start to the campaign, Osman believes McInnes' side will offer a title challenge again.
"I rate Aberdeen," he said. "I think they are a good side and I think they are going to challenge for it, to be honest with you.
"I think it will be tight between Celtic, Aberdeen and Rangers."
Source: PAR
