Kenny McLean accepts that Aberdeen’s recent form has not been good enough and is determined to put it right against Motherwell this afternoon.
The Dons go into the match against the Steelmen on the back of a surprising four-game losing streak but can return to the Premiership’s summit with a victory this afternoon.
Derek McInnes’ Reds set a club record by winning their opening eight league matches but attacking midfielder McLean says their recent displays have not met the required standard.
A 2-0 defeat by Championship side Hibernian ended the Dons’ hopes of regaining the League Cup before further defeats by Caley Thistle, St Johnstone and Ross County.
This will be Aberdeen’s first match at Pittodrie since the 5-1 thrashing by the Perth Saints and McLean says the team is eager to make amends.
He said: “It was a disappointing result at Dingwall last Friday but we have picked ourselves up and everything has been good in terms of preparing for Motherwell. We know the results haven’t been good enough or what we wanted lately but we are determined to turn that around.
“There’s no doubt we have been surprised by the run of results given the quality we have in the squad.
“It has been very unlike us as a team and individuals but we have the chance to change that for the better against Motherwell.”
McLean says Motherwell, who will have new manager Mark McGhee in the dugout, will be fancying their chances against an out-of-form Dons.
He added: “That’s what teams have been like the last couple of weeks after us losing a couple of games.
“I think opponents having been coming into games thinking we are low in confidence and maybe that’s been the case.
“But the preparations have been brilliant this week and we are ready for Motherwell.
“Saturday can’t come quickly enough for us.
“We have worked on a lot defensively but then that’s what we have always done.
“We haven’t changed things much from the times we were winning a lot of games.
“We are losing more goals than we were but that’s not just down to the defenders as it’s about our general play.
“We need to defend better as a team and we need to start scoring more goals again as well.”