Ash Taylor knows the Aberdeen supporters are already dreaming about a first top-flight title in more than three decades – but says the Dons players will come unstuck if they start doing the same.
Wednesday’s 2-1 victory against Celtic saw Derek McInnes’ side cut the gap at the top to three points and the Dons can join the Hoops at the head of matters this afternoon with a victory against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
The Reds have blown the title race wide open with 14 games remaining but Taylor says the players are refusing to get caught up in the hype.
He said: “I can understand why the supporters believe we can win the league because when you beat Celtic twice at home the expectation goes through the roof.
“I can see why they would get excited but we just have to keep our heads.
“We didn’t beat Celtic at all last season but that’s two wins this time round. That shows we’re making progress but it’s all about the next game now.
“We have a great squad and a great bunch of boys, there is magnificent quality here.
“It’s important to have that in the dressing-room but it comes down to togetherness as well and we have that, too.
“It’s a good group of lads here.
“No one in the dressing-room looks further than the next game, it’s all about St Johnstone.
“The manager has us well-drilled on what we want and that we need to be focused on the next game.”
This will be Aberdeen’s first meeting with St Johnstone since the Perth Saints ran out 5-1 winners at Pittodrie in October.
It was a miserable day for the Dons and one that still weighs heavily on Taylor’s mind.
He said: “The 5-1 game against them the last time doesn’t rest easy with us, we don’t like losing that amount of goals in a game.
“So, we want to make amends for that this weekend when we’re down there.
“It’s a very tricky game when you play them, they are a good side and have players who can hurt you.
“The 5-1 game was just one of those days, everything they hit found the back of the next and it all went against us.
“We didn’t put in the best of performances anyway but this is a chance to put it right.”