Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean has warned his side still has work to do if the Dons are to reach the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
Aberdeen hold a 3-0 lead following a stunning away win at HNK Rijeka of Croatia last week, but the Croats are determined to make amends in tomorrow’s second leg at Pittodrie.
Former St Mirren captain McLean, who came off the bench to score the third goal, his first for the club, knows his team is in the driving seat, but warned plans for next week’s likely trip to Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty must be kept on hold.
He said: “There is still a lot to do.
“Rijeka showed in the first 15 minutes what a good team they are when they really came out of the blocks and had a go at us.
“But after that we nullified their threat and we were pretty comfortable.
“We defended really well with our back five impressive, but there is still the second leg to come and we must be cautious.
“The third goal has made a big difference, but we can’t think the tie is over.
“We’ve seen teams come back from 3-0 down before and go through.
“We have to do the same job again.”
McLean’s first goal for the Dons could not have come at a better time and the 23 year-old, a £175,000 signing from the Buddies in January, hopes his first goal is a sign he is settling in at Pittodrie.
The midfielder reckons he has not shown his best form for the club and is eager to make his mark in his first full season under manager Derek McInnes.
He said: “I’ve done all right since arriving here in January, but all right is not enough for me. I set high standards and didn’t quite reach them last season.
“But I feel very settled now on and off the pitch and I’m hoping this can be a good season for me.
“Getting my first goal certainly helps as it is a relief to take that pressure off me. There was responsibility on me at St Mirren to score goals and the expectation is even bigger at a club such as Aberdeen.
“I know they spent a lot of money on me in January, but I’m only now finding my feet and I am hoping to repay the faith they’ve shown in me.”