Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists his players have not let anyone down, despite surrendering a five-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The Dons will attempt to put the brakes on a six-game winless run against bottom of the league Dundee United at Pittodrie tomorrow.
Aberdeen were hailed as title-contenders after establishing a five-point lead at the top with eight successive wins to start the season, but a frustrating loss of form has dropped the Dons to third, one point behind Hearts and seven adrift of leaders Celtic.
McInnes and his team have come under scrutiny after taking one point from a possible 15 but the Dons manager claims the onus is not solely on his team to take the challenge to champions Celtic, saying: “There have been Aberdeen teams over the last while who haven’t managed to deal with the expectations which have been put on them. We got off to a start this season that even I didn’t expect and maybe put too much pressure on ourselves to maintain that.
“It was always going to be difficult and the players can’t feel that they are underachieving or letting people down.
“They are clearly not – not only from an Aberdeen perspective but for our supporters and for our city.
“They may feel disappointed by recent results, and I understand that.
“The rest of the Scottish league was looking at Aberdeen to be the team to give a title challenge.
“The way things have transpired with recent results, people are thinking we won’t have a title fight as Aberdeen can’t maintain it.
“The players maybe feel they have let everybody down – not just Aberdeen people. But it is important they don’t think that as my players have not let anybody down.
“We have got good players who I have total confidence in and they are good enough to go on winning runs. We won’t be beaten up by a feeling of underachievement.”
Midfielder Cammy Smith, who missed last week’s 3-1 defeat by Celtic with a groin strain, and defender Andrew Considine, who was substituted after 23 minutes following a clash of heads with Hoops defender Dedryck Boyata, are both fit and available for selection this weekend.
Attacker Josh Parker, however, is a doubt for the match after sustaining a knee injury while playing for Aberdeen’s under-20 team in their 4-1 win against Dundee at Balmoor on Tuesday.