Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has urged his players to put next week’s double-header against rivals Rangers to the back of their minds as they bid to bounce back against Kilmarnock.
The Dons fell six points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic after suffering a 2-0 defeat by Motherwell following a lacklustre showing at Pittodrie on Saturday.
McInnes’ side are entering a busy period with Sunday’s trip to Ayrshire closely followed by meetings with Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday and again at Pittodrie four days later.
When asked how important it is to head into next week’s double-header on the back of a positive result, McInnes said: “I just want us to respond from Saturday.
“We are so much better than we showed.
“Anybody who has watched us regularly knows that performance against Motherwell was alien to us.
“We are just concentrating on the next game and that is Kilmarnock.
“We are keen to win all three points.
“Even if we can’t do that, we want to produce a performance that will give us a chance.”
McInnes admitted he was disappointed by his side’s dismal display against the Steelmen and is looking for a huge improvement this weekend.
He added: “It is always the case when you have a negative result that you want to bounce back.
“The performance against Motherwell was as poor as we have been in as long as I can remember.
“From start to finish we never really got going.
“When you have a performance as poor as that you are keen to rectify it.
“There is no point dwelling on it. We move on from Saturday.
“There is the same focus on this one.
“Kilmarnock have been going well recently.
“We have got a tough game on our hands but knowing the players as I do, they are eager to get back to winning ways.”
Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie is back available for the Dons after missing Saturday’s defeat through suspension.
