Source: FOOTYMAD
Sword of Damocles Over McGhee
Matrk McGhee will be a very nervous manager tonight as his team and tactics could determine if he has a job tomorrow Mark McGhee is keeping what was said behind closed doors at Pittodrie following the 9-0 trashing by Celtic to himself. He had 'discussions' with the Aberdeen board following the game but continues to insist he is "comfortable'' with his position as manager. There are suggestions that he has been given tonight's game against Inverness to save his job. The former Aberdeen and Celtic striker admitted speaking to chairman Stewart Milne and director of football Willie Miller over the weekend but while he would not reveal where he believed those talks left him, he claimed to be relaxed about his situation. He said: "I'm not prepared to tell you what I believe. I have regular discussions with Stewart Milne and Willie and have since I came here, and they are the same as others - private and constructive. I can't tell you (what was said). I'm comfortable with the situation. I am focused on the game tomorrow night and I am comfortable with that. I'm a realist. I have been in the game a long time, I know how it works. However, I am still the manager this morning and it looks like, regardless of what anyone may say, I will be the manager for the Inverness match. So the most important thing for me is the Inverness game and that is a good thing. It allows me to focus on that and not on what everyone else is saying. There will be strong feelings about me and the team and the club. The fact is I'm still here, I will be taking the team tomorrow night and all I can say to the supporters is that we are hugely embarrassed by what happened on Saturday.'' Paul Hartley is suspended for tonight's game with Inverness at Pittodrie. The Dons skipper was red carded in Saturday`s record 9-0 defeat by Celtic at Parkhead and will serve an automatic one-game ban. Andy Considine (knee) and Nikola Vujadinovic (hamstring) are still struggling while Peter Pawlett (broken toe) and long-term casualty Fraser Fyvie are out.Inverness Caledonian Thitsle manager Terry Butcher insists a combination of pride and fear of failure is what is driving his team forward this term. Their success so far has largely been down to an impressive away record, which sees them unbeaten on the road in league competition for the last 12 months. Rangers were unable to end the run, surrendering their own 100% SPL record this season when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Butcher's men at Ibrox last week. But Butcher has no intention of seeing his side's incredible away form ending at Pittodrie now that they are used to delivering the right result on their travels. He said: "We've got experience of a year ago of starting the unbeaten run and continuing it and maintaining it. The boys like to get their teeth into an unbeaten run and keep it going. It does become a pride thing. You are proud of what you have achieved and you want to continue. You don't want to be the one that stops it or the one that makes a mistake so you try even harder. That's the key. I said at the start of the season that you're looking at several little runs that can take you up the league and I think that's true. But one big run helped us last season so long may it continue.''Inverness are expected to name an unchanged squad for the game. Midfielder Russell Duncan pulled out of the home defeat by Motherwell with a groin injury and is doubtful again to be named in the squad. Gil Blumenshtein, David Proctor, Chris Innes (all hamstring) and Kenny Gillet (knee) remain on the sidelines. Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is ScottishFitba Net
