MATTY Kennedy has urged his Aberdeen team mates to target victory in all of their remaining matches this season in the wake of their agonising draw with Celtic.
A Leigh Griffiths header with just five seconds of added-on time remaining denied Stephen Glass’s side their first win over their Parkhead rivals in three years at Pittodrie on Wednesday night.
However, winger Kennedy was encouraged by how Aberdeen, who had taken an early lead through Lewis Ferguson, performed during the entertaining Premiership encounter.
The Northern Ireland internationalist is hopeful they can defeat Dundee United in their Scottish Cup quarter-final at home on Sunday following their midweek display and go all the way in that competition.
And he wants them to beat Livingston, Hibernian and Rangers in their remaining league matches and clinch third place in the top flight table as well.
“We played well against Celtic and I felt we had the better chances in the game,” he said. “Fergie (Lewis Ferguson) hits the post towards the end of the game.
“After the game everyone was gutted in the changing room which just shows how far we have come. We were gutted not to beat Celtic. Now we just look forward to the cup at the weekend and try to keep our heads up.”
Kennedy added: “We won the first (post-split) game against St Johnstone and picked up a point against Celtic. We have to try to pick up points every week. We are definitely going to give it everything we can.
“Everyone watching the game will have seen that we will give everything to try to go as far as we can in the cup and try to catch Hibs. We do owe Dundee United one. They beat us last time but it is cup football and only one team goes through – and we want to make sure that is us.
“We want to win that Dundee United game and do well in the cup. We will do everything we can to push through in the cup. If European football comes, then it comes but we will focus on this game.
“You want to keep momentum and at the end of the day we want to win every game. I think we have a good squad so why can’t we win every game? We do want to beat Dundee United and be in the draw for the next round and I am sure we will do that.”
Kennedy has admitted the arrival of Glass, whose first game in charge was the penalty shoot-out win over Livingston on Saturday, had buoyed the Aberdeen squad.
“Everybody loved the last manager (Derek McInnes) and I thought we were playing well,” he said. “Obviously when a new face comes in no matter what club or who the manager is it does give you a lift.
“In the changing room everyone gets on really well with the new manager and (assistant) Allan Russell as well.
“They have given all the boys a lift in the changing room and on the training pitch giving the boys tips on how to improve their game.
“We are all delighted with the training and how the games have been going so far. Hopefully it continues.”
Kennedy was impressed with how young defender Calvin Ramsay, who is just 17 and was making only his fourth first team appearance, performed when he replaced Ross McCrorie on Wednesday night.
“He was absolutely brilliant,” he said. “Calvin was on my side and myself and Tommie (Hoban) talked to him throughout the whole game. I tried to get back when I could to help him.
“He’s confident and you can see that when he comes on. He is confident on the ball and doesn’t shy away. He doesn’t talk around the training ground, but he was confident against Celtic. I am delighted for him and he fully deserves it.”
The game on Wednesday night was the first that Celtic captain Scott Brown had played against Aberdeen since it was announced that he would be moving to Pittodrie in the summer.
Kennedy feels the Scotland midfielder will make a huge impact on the north-east club when he arrives.
“I was never near him on Wednesday night," he said. “But in Scottish football and around the world he is respected and I am sure he will bring a lot of positivity to the training ground and the team.
“You can see on the park he influences boys around him and makes them play better. I am sure he will do that for us as well."
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