Motherwell defender Stephen McManus believes Aberdeen have the right man in charge to lead them on a Scottish Premiership title charge.
The Scotland defender spent two spells on loan at Bristol City when Derek McInnes was at the helm of the Robins.
McInnes’ time at Bristol was cut short with the club bottom of the English Championship two years ago but the Aberdeen manager is now enjoying a much happier period of his managerial career.
The Dons defeated Motherwell 2-0 on Sunday to move four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership and former Celtic and Middlesbrough defender McManus says the Dons can push the Hoops all the way this season.
He said: “Aberdeen are going really well and Derek McInnes has got them very well organised.
“It will be interesting to see how long they can sustain that challenge but the one thing they have got is a really good person leading them.
“Everyone in the country, except for Celtic, will want to see them challenging. If Aberdeen and Dundee United can challenge Celtic for as long as possible it can only be good for the league.
“Derek is a very good manager. Bristol City was probably the most difficult period in his managerial career.
“I was there twice and my last game was the one where he lost his job. I think he was wanting to extend my loan period as he had said we would speak after the game.
“He is a great person and has a real hunger to be successful as a manager and he has a great right-hand man in Tony Docherty.
“It is no coincidence that Aberdeen have done so well in the past two years but that is where they should be in my opinion.
“Aberdeen are a massive club with a huge supporter base. They should be up there, especially when there is no Rangers, Hearts or Hibs in the league.”
Being at the top of the table so far into the season is uncharted territory for the Dons but McManus believes the experience of his former Celtic team-mates Barry Robson and Willo Flood can be crucial.
He said: “Aberdeen have not been in this position where they are leading the league at this stage.
“I don’t think many of their players have won league titles or been in titles races with the exception of Willo and Barry Robson so they will be key for Aberdeen. It is a different type of pressure for the rest of them but it is one they will relish.
“But they also have Derek who won titles for Rangers as a player and knows what it is about.”
McManus is hopeful the red card he received against Aberdeen in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat can be overturned.
The 32-year-old was sent off for handling on the line but television replays showed it was a very harsh decision on the Motherwell defender.
He said: “I was disappointed with the decision. I knew the ball had hit me on the shoulder. It probably wouldn’t have affected the result but the disappointing thing for me is I’m probably going to miss the next game.
“The evidence is there on the television but I’m not going to criticise the referee as he has a tough job to do.
“To get sent off was bitterly disappointing. The ball came at me so quickly and I was just trying to get in the way of it.”
