Source: Team_Talk
McGhee sounds relegation warning
Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee has warned his players they will have to show more fight to ensure they are not dragged into a relegation battle.[LNB] Aberdeen's slim top-six hopes finally ended on Sunday when they lost 2-0 at Kilmarnock.[LNB]Despite a promising start, Aberdeen struggled to get back into the game after Davide Grassi's 25th-minute own goal, and McGhee admitted they failed to match the determination shown by relegation-threatened Kilmarnock.[LNB]Aberdeen, who face Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday, sit nine points off the foot of the Scottish Premier League.[LNB]But all of the bottom three picked up points at the weekend and Aberdeen's record of one win in 13 matches means McGhee is not taking their SPL status for granted.[LNB]"If we don't win another football match between now and the end of the season, it's possible we'll get relegated," McGhee told RedTV.[LNB]"So the idea that relegation is not an option is not true. However, I don't believe we'll be relegated because I think we have it within us to win a couple of football matches.[LNB]"I can't see us winning every game and I don't see why anyone else would think we would, but I believe we can win two, three or four of the games remaining.[LNB]"But we have to realise we have to compete in adversity a little bit better than we did at Kilmarnock.[LNB]"Hopefully that will bring it home to them and when we go into the Rangers game, and in particular the St Johnstone game, there will be a bit more of an edge."[LNB]Only around 200 Aberdeen fans were at Rugby Park to see their side's failure to reach the top six confirmed but McGhee has urged the supporters not to be too hard on the likes of Sone Aluko.[LNB]"I think they are entitled to feel that there are one or two who can do a bit better, but there is mitigation," McGhee said.[LNB]"I'm the biggest Sone fan but, after his early spell up front, he went wide and he didn't do it, and they would be entitled to point the finger at Sone.[LNB]"But Sone has been out all season, he's finding it very difficult to get up for this last part of the season.[LNB]"I think what Sone wants is the season to end and to go away and have a summer and come back flying next season.[LNB]"So there is mitigation and they can't be too hard on, particularly, the young players."[LNB]Dons goalkeeper Jamie Langfield admitted the fight and commitment was lacking at Rugby Park but he is determined to banish any prospect of relegation.[LNB]"We have got a bit of a gap just now but these gaps can be eaten up," the 30-year-old said.[LNB]"We need to make sure, in the likes of Ibrox trip and next Sunday against St Johnstone, that we get more points on board so we're not involved in that relegation fight and can enjoy the rest of what has been a very, very difficult season.[LNB]"We want to be top of the mini-league now, we want to be seventh."
