Aberdeen caretaker boss Peter Leven insists the Dons can compete with Celtic in next Saturday’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden after stretching their unbeaten run to four games in a 0-0 cinch Premiership draw with Dundee.
The Dons have tightened up at the back in recent weeks, recording three clean sheets in those four games, though only Angus MacDonald’s superb block denied Lyall Cameron an opener in this game of few chances, while former Don Curtis Main had the ball in the net, only to be denied by an offside call against Amadou Bakayoko.
Leven’s men had to watch Dundee celebrate claiming a top-six spot at the end of the match and Leven commented: “Any time you play the Old Firm you’ve got to keep it tight at the back. We’ll work on it this week, go through the game from today and prepare for Celtic.
“The pressure is always on us – we’re Aberdeen. We’ve got to go there and believe we’re going to win. That’s the message I’m going to give, and the players will believe in it.”
With rumours swirling of progress in Aberdeen’s hunt for a permanent manager, Leven could only add “We’ll sit down with the club on Monday and Tuesday and go from there.”
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After a difficult week at Dens Park that saw accusations fly around Dundee’s postponed match against Rangers, manager Tony Docherty was pleased his side could seal their top-six spot without having to wait for the rearranged match this coming Wednesday.
The 10 other cinch Premiership clubs played their final match before the split on Saturday, and Docherty said “I’m pleased about that because it did rankle with me and did bother me. Sporting integrity is important to me, so it does sit better with me.
“I’m not even thinking about the game on Wednesday yet. In football, it’s important to celebrate achievements with your peers so I want the players to celebrate that [claiming a top six slot], but it’s important that on Sunday and Monday we get back to business.”
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