Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has hailed his players’ resolve after watching his side bounce back from a coronavirus protocol breach on the opening day of the season by winning six games in a row.
Eight Aberdeen players breached protocol by visiting a city centre bar after the defeat to Rangers on the opening day of the season on August 1 and when two players tested positive the club was left to sit idle for three Premiership matches.
The Dons have put the incident behind them in impressive fashion, however, with Thursday’s 2-0 Europa League win at Viking FK the club’s sixth straight victory.
McInnes is delighted at the response of his side who can now look forward to a third round trip to Lisbon to face Sporting Club de Portugal next week.
He said: “When you think of where we were after the first game of the season the players deserve so much credit for the way they have responded. Some games we have had to dig it out and in others we have played really well.
“We have been really solid, we’ve had a good platform to build on and have carried a threat going forward. We have lost only two goals in seven games so there has been a lot to be pleased about.”
Tomorrow’s opponents Motherwell are also still flying the flag for Scotland after the Steelmen beat Coleraine on penalties to extend their run in the competition.
Stephen Robinson’s side make the trip to Pittodrie tomorrow and McInnes believes the visitors will be eager to get their season up and running after a stuttering start.
He said: “It was good to see Motherwell go through as well because you want as many Scottish representatives in the next round as possible.
“They haven’t had the best start to the season in the league but they are a good side, everyone knows that. Stephen has a lot of good players so it was a surprise they struggled to get going but I think everyone expected them to pick up.
“They won last weekend in the league and they went through on Thursday, so they will come to us looking to get more momentum behind them.”
Following the busy schedule and with another vital European tie looming in Portugal the Aberdeen boss will make changes for tomorrow’s game at Pittodrie.
He said: “It was a short flight home on Thursday, which you are always grateful for, but we will maybe freshen the team up for Sunday. We will look at that over the next couple of days.
“Winning six games in a row is good and the players have put a lot of work in to do that. The challenge now is to make it seven and keep that momentum we’ve built up going.”