DEREK McINNES remains philosophical about the recent blips experienced by an Aberdeen side eliminated from the League Cup by Hibernian and beaten in an under-par performance at Inverness last weekend.
Tiredness, he suggested, was not an issue in the Highlands where he started without his leading strikers – David Goodwillie and Adam Rooney – preferring, instead, the pace of Josh Parker, on loan from Red Star Belgrade.
It is all part of his plan to utilise his squad, he stressed, while some Granite City fans remained puzzled by such a decision.
But the Pittodrie manager rightly pointed to a remarkable run by his team; 24 points from a possible 27, a ratio he described as outstanding.
"“We have had a lot of praise recently and rightly so," he insisted.
“I have been delighted with what the players gave us but we have to recognise that there’s not a lot between us and others, so we have to do better at certain aspects than we did last weekend.
“The good thing about my players is that they are as honest as the day is long and they know the importance of doing things better.
“I don’t think the defeat to Caley Thistle was down to fatigue.
“We always knew the third game in six days would be the toughest, but I felt we finished the game very strongly.
“We were the Aberdeen team we’re accustomed to in the second half.
“We have spoken about the importance of utilising the squad over the course of the season.
“In the past I felt I was too reliant on picking the same 13 or 14 players.
“So this time round I want to make changes when it has been needed and we’ve done that to a winning team.
“It’s like everything else, though, when people sign or re-sign here they have to take the challenge of being a regular.
“It’s down to the players rather than the scheduling of the games."
The recent form of St Johnstone, visitors to Pittodrie on Saturday, has made McInnes and other SPFL managers slightly wary of them following their recent performances against Rangers, in the League Cup, and in the league where their form was underlined with a 10-man win over Dundee United last weekend.
“St Johnstone have good players and always bring a competitive edge," he said.
“They have goals at the top end of the pitch, have experience and a good physical presence.
“They are everything that people talk about.
“They didn’t get off to a great start but in the last few weeks are back to the St Johnstone you know.
“Nobody is surprised when they beat Rangers at Ibrox and follow up with a big result against Dundee United.
“That’s what you expect from them; they’re up and running now and look like a team who will be up at the top end of the table pushing for Europe."
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