Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has warned his players they cannot pass up their scoring chances for a third time this season when they travel to Hearts tomorrow.
The Reds have lost both games to the Scottish Premiership’s bottom club this season despite dominating the two matches and, with the Dons trying to secure second place in the Premiership, McInnes knows they have to make the most of the first of two trips to the capital before the split.
He said: “We haven’t had the best results against Hearts this season but we’ve had a couple of decent performances.
“If we can reproduce that level at Tynecastle then we can win the game.
“We were wasteful in both matches this season and we have to be more clinical on Wednesday.
“We’ve got two important games to go before the split, away to both Edinburgh clubs, and we have to keep picking up points.”
The Dons stretched their lead on Motherwell to two points with a 1-1 draw against Dundee United at Pittodrie on Saturday while the Steelmen lost 2-1 at home to Kilmarnock.
The two results keep the Dons in the driving seat in the race to finish best of the rest.
But the Aberdeen manager believes there is no pressure on his side to finish as runners-up to champions Celtic.
He said: “Regardless of how well we have done in the cups, the league is important to us and we have shown how much it means by coming back from a goal behind in the last three matches.
“As a manager it’s always about how players perform but if we don’t finish second it won’t be the biggest disappointment. I’m looking for a consistent level of performance from the players and if they give me that we won’t be far away.
“There are good teams around us but we are confident we can keep doing what we’ve done. It’s a nice feeling to be in the mix at this stage but there’s no pressure on us.
“I’ve said all along we will finish where we deserve to finish.”
Peter Pawlett is in contention for a first-team recall after missing the last three games with a groin injury.