Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists the speculation surrounding his future is not affecting results at Pittodrie.
The Dons have taken four points from their last four Premiership matches during which time McInnes has been constantly linked with the vacant manager’s job at Rangers.
Despite chairman Stewart Milne and McInnes’ attempts to draw a line under the speculation a week ago the Dons manager remains the number one target at Ibrox.
Gers chairman Dave King says progress has been made on the club’s search for a new manager and claims some of the candidates are under contract.
McInnes, however, insists the ongoing speculation is not influencing the results at his club.
He said: “It’s an easy thing to say and it may be a reason but I don’t see it that way. We are professionals and we just get on with the job.
“I think the players would admit themselves that nothing has changed in my preparations for matches.
“I think that for us we have had a good strong win at Kilmarnock which was a far more Aberdeen like performance on the road.
“We had 10 wins and two draws up until Wednesday night away from home this season so consistency has been there.
“But I get that losing to Motherwell at Pittodrie then losing away to Rangers means I can understand why people mighty assume that. I don’t see that myself though.”
Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat at Ibrox was a sore one for the Dons but they have the chance to make amends tomorrow when the Gers visit Pittodrie (12.30).
McInnes is eager to see his players take their chance to put things right.
He said: “We came away from losing at Motherwell in the League Cup on the Thursday night and probably the last thing anyone wanted to do was to go back to Fir Park on the Sunday.
“In hindsight it was the perfect antidote in terms of what was required as we came back up the road with a win in the league.
“We would be happy to have a game against anyone after what happened at Ibrox
“But the fact that it’s against Rangers again means it can be a similar outcome to what we did against Motherwell.
“We have an idea how we want to play and obviously it has got to be a lot better than we did the other night.
“We all take responsibility for the outcome at Ibrox. We set the team up to give is the best chance to win the game.
“But it is up to the players to match runs, win individual battles, get on top of your direct opponent and win headers.”
