Niall McGinn says the pain of missing out on second spot in the Scottish Premiership last season will ensure Aberdeen leave nothing to chance this time around.
The Dons were pipped to the runners-up position on the final day of the 2013-14 season when Craig Reid’s last-minute winner at Pittodrie earned Motherwell the title of best of the rest behind champions Celtic.
Derek McInnes’ men are in pole position to finish second this season with an eight-point cushion over third-placed Caley Thistle.
The Dons take on Partick Thistle this afternoon and McGinn says his Reds are determined to ensure there are no slip-ups.
He said: “The end of last season was disappointing. It wasn’t just the Motherwell game, I think we only won two of our last nine games.
“We want to put that right this time and finish the season strongly. We want to get that second spot tied down as quickly as possible.
“We have plenty of games to go and we know the likes of Partick will be coming here fighting for their lives.
“There will be no easy games between now and the end of the season.
“We want to get back to winning ways after the draw at Dundee and pick up as many positive results as we can between now and the end of the season.”
McGinn helped Northern Ireland to a 2-1 victory against Finland in last Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifier to leave Michael O’Neill’s side only one point behind Group F leaders Romania.
The 27-year-old is excited about the prospect of his country making a first appearance at a major finals since the 1986 World Cup.
He said: “Thankfully, we got the three points, so we are sitting nicely in the group.
“Hopefully there are more exciting times ahead for us but we are not getting carried away. It is massive as I don’t think we have qualified for 30 years.
“To be involved in the Northern Ireland squad nowadays is great. We are winning games and the whole atmosphere is very positive.
“It is exciting as the dream is still alive.
“It has been a very long season for me but I am used to that by now.
“The manager, Derek McInnes, has been brilliant and any time I have maybe needed an extra day off he has obviously been very approachable.
“The squad of players here finish on May 24 but I don’t finish until June 14 as we have a match against Romania.
“I’m sure the manager will give me a couple of weeks off after that.”