GARY Mackay-Steven has played down the significance of Celtic’s defeat to Aberdeen and insisted they are capable of overcoming Ajax in their opening Europa League group game in Amsterdam this week.

Ronny Deila’s team squandered a one goal lead to Derek McInnes’s side in a Ladbrokes Premiership game at Pittodrie on Saturday.

Despite Jonnny Hayes being sent off for a foul on Mikael Lustig in the second half, the home team ran out deserved 2-1 winners to move above their opponents in the top flight table.

Leaders Aberdeen can now move five points clear of Celtic if they defeat Hamilton in a rearranged league game at home tomorrow evening.

Mackay-Steven admitted the Scottish champions’ weekend performance had fallen some way below the standards expected at the Parkhead club.

However, the winger is confident his side can recover from the reverse quickly and triumph when they take on Group A rivals Ajax in the Amsterdam ArenA on Thursday night.

“We knew Aberdeen could challenge us last season,” he said. “We know they’re our closest rivals. They showed on Saturday what a good team they are.

“But we just concentrate on ourselves. It’s not a crisis in our eyes to be honest. It is early on in the season. We didn’t play as well as we could. We know Aberdeen are a good team and they punished us today. But I think we will put things right.

“We are going to be dangerous throughout the season. But we know ourselves what we can do. It is a big game, but it is only one game and it is early in the season.

“The manager was angry, but mainly at our performance. We were in the driving seat and in the second half we didn’t create enough chances to win the game. I think overall Aberdeen deserved it to be honest. He was just angry at our performance.

“It is never nice. We are not used to losing. We have a winning mentality. Nobody accepts a loss. It is good we have got a massive game to look forward to. We can put a lot of things right. But they happen and we need to show what we are made of.”

Mackay-Steven added: “Ajax can’t come quick enough. We need to prove why we have been champions before. I think there are enough big characters in the dressing room to make sure this is just a one off.

“Ajax is a massive game. It is away from home and we will need to be at the top of our game if we are going to take anything from it. We need put things right on the training field this week and I’m sure we will.”

Celtic allowed Aberdeen to score with just four minutes remaining at Pittodrie on Saturday when centre half Paul Quinn got on the end of a Niall McGinn free-kick.

It was the latest goal Deila’s side has conceded at a set-piece this season and Mackay-Steven admitted they would have to do better in that area if they are to triumph in the Netherlands this week.

He said: “That is one of the things the manager was frustrated at, losing goals from set pieces. We have worked on it a lot. I don’t know whether the wind was a factor. The ball travelled a long way. We will need to look at it on the video and eradicate any mistakes.

“We have done it before. I think there is no reason, if everyone is playing like we know they can, we can’t go there and get a positive result. I am sure of it.”