Andy Considine insists the new arrivals at Aberdeen have learned the hard way what is expected of them at PIttodrie.
The Dons avoided a fourth defeat in a row with an extra-time win at Dundee in the Betfred Cup on Sunday with Considine atoning for conceding a penalty by scoring the equaliser in injury time to take the tie to extra-time where Sam Cosgrove’s ninth goal of the season gave Derek McInnes’s side victory.
Considine said: “A lot of the boys we’ve brought in maybe don’t realise the size of the club and the expectations at Aberdeen.
“To go three games on the bounce is not great and there is an expectation to get results here.
“Sunday was for the fans. We were due them, the manager and ourselves a performance.
“ It wasn’t great at times. In fact for 92 minutes it wasn’t great but to get the goal and win in extra time shows great character.
“There have been a few of us who have said losing a game means you feel the backlash. You don’t want to tuck your tail between your legs and not make eye contact. We’re a tight group and it is days like that which show we’ve gelled a team.”
The feeling among the Aberdeen players was one of relief at the end of a difficult afternoon in Dundee where a cup exit looked likely following a disappointing display.
Considine believes the lingering after effects of the club’s Europa League exit to Rijeka at Pittodrie cannot be ignored.
He said: “The other night against Rijeka we felt we had a huge chance. We were 2-0 down and to have the sending off and lose two goals took the wind out of our sails massively. You could see the disappointment all around.
“There was a clear displeasure of how the game went on Thursday. When the second half came along it was damage limitation.
“Every time we lost the ball there was grunting and groaning but in any club in the land fans voice their opinions when their team is losing.
“The boys know that now. I’ve been here 17 years, I know what it takes and how it feels. I was beside myself after the game.
“It was horrible to feel like that as we didn’t give ourselves a chance. There were a lot of punters there and it was game over after 15 minutes. It was awful.
“That’s why we knew it would be a tough game down at Dens but the boys showed real character.”
