Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean has refused to concede defeat in the title race and insists the Dons can win all seven of their remaining Scottish Premiership matches.
Derek McInnes’ side slipped four points behind champions Celtic, who have a game in hand, following a 2-1 loss at Motherwell coupled with a late winner for the Hoops at Kilmarnock on March 19.
The Hoops remain in control of their destiny, but McLean is confident his side can finish the season with a flourish and push Celtic, who play Hearts on Saturday, all the way for the title.
The Dons host Hamilton on Sunday lunchtime and McLean said: “We are looking after ourselves. We will go into the Hamilton game ready and our preparations have already started. We know how big the three points are for us regardless of whether Celtic win, lose or draw.
“We know we can win every game between now and the end of the season.
“We started the season with an eight-game winning run and have had other good runs during the campaign so there is no reason why we cannot end the season by winning the final seven games.
“We are capable of taking all of the 21 points available. It would be ideal if we could do it and that is what we will be trying to do as we know we have the quality in the squad.
“But we will be taking it game by game and Sunday is the start.”
McLean knows Celtic are in the driving seat as the title race nears the finish line, but despite the loss at Motherwell the Reds midfielder is counting on further twists to come.
With the Dons also due to make a trip to Parkhead after the split the 24-year-old hopes his side can help its cause by recording a third win of the campaign against the Hoops.
He said: “There will be points dropped along the way, but I just hope it is not us. We are confident and we know we are good enough, and if there are slips along the way hopefully we can capitalise.
“Whenever the Celtic game is after the split we will be confident. We know the game will be at Parkhead but it makes no difference to us.
“We have played them three times this season and bettered them in two of those games. We’ve had a good season, but we can make it an even better one.”
Caley Thistle manager John Hughes has made an approach for former Aberdeen transfer target, Partick Thistle midfielder Stuart Bannigan.
The 23-year-old is out of contract with the Glasgow club in the summer and Partick manager Alan Archibald has already resigned himself to losing the former Scotland under-21 international.
Bannigan is expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury but Hughes is already planning for next season and Caley Jags have made contact with Partick to inform them of their intention to speak to Bannigan.
Bannigan was a target of Aberdeen in January, with talk of a January transfer bid prompting Thistle manager Archibald to issue a threat to quit if the player’s sale was sanctioned by the Firhill board.
English League 1 side Barnsley have also been credited with an interest in Bannigan, who has made 161 appearances for the Jags, helping the club achieve promotion to the Premiership in 2013.
