BY the time Derek McInnes had gathered his squad together on Friday morning, the hurt inflicted by Rangers at Ibrox two nights earlier had subsided, though it was still raw enough for the Aberdeen manager to recognise the only cure would be to beat the Light Blues in the re-match at Pittodrie today.

Thursday had been “a rotten day” but 24 hours later spirits had been lifted and McInnes’ role as a motivator kicked in. Analysis of the defeat to a side chasing them in the Premiership, brought a brighter outlook with McInnes demanding a much-improved approach, not to say performance.

By 2.15pm today we will know whether his pep talk worked or whether the men from Govan were so buoyed by their midweek win that they simply picked up where they left off.

“Thursday was a rotten day for us all,” McInnes admitted, “but we will be far more positive going into the game even though we know Rangers will come north with a spring in their step. We have got to make sure there is no self-doubt as we don’t all of a sudden become a bad team. We are second in the league for a reason and we accept that we are way better than what we showed at Ibrox the other night, especially in the first half.

“Now we have to remind the players the demands of the club, the challenge ahead of us and the need to respond positively. We are a good side but just because you have good players doesn’t mean it is going to automatically go our way. We are going to have to fight for every inch and get the game going our way and sometimes this season we haven’t grasped the importance of that.

“On Sunday there will be a lot of our supporters in the stands and we have to deliver what they expect from us from the start of the game.”

Anthony O’Connor was one of many Dons players whose display on Wednesday night fell to an unacceptable level but he insisted the horror show had been consigned to history as the manager had restored confidence during his meeting with his players.

The three-point lead they enjoy over Rangers is alarmingly close for them with the managerless Light Blues aiming to hoist themselves into a position of greater prominence in the league table. There was also the not insignificant issue of the speculation surrounding his manager’s future, whether it lay down Paisley Road West way and if it impacted on the players’ poor performances.

“It’s got nothing to do with the speculation,” O’Connor said. “There’s always going to be speculation with the gaffer and certain players.

“The gaffer has done a really good job here and there was speculation in the summer with Sunderland. There was speculation last season when the Rangers job came up and now there’s speculation again. But as a professional footballer you’ve just got to put that to the back of your mind and concentrate on the next game.

“That’s what we’ve been doing – and it’s what the gaffer has been doing as well. The gaffer hasn’t spoken one word about: ‘Is he going? Is he not?’ His main focus has been on the next game and the team. That’s why he’s such a good manager, he doesn’t let anything get to him. His concentration is always on the next game for Aberdeen Football Club.

“He had a chat with us again on Friday morning and it was all about putting it right on Sunday. Not only has it been hurting us as players, it has been hurting him as well. Not one of us could enjoy our day off on Thursday because we lost on Wednesday night and it was the same with the gaffer.

“So I wouldn’t say speculation has affected us, it’s just some performances haven’t been where they should be.

“But what better way to put it right than against Rangers? We know we have to win the game. We’re not going out there just to put in a performance. We’re going out to win.”