Aberdeen assistant manager Tony Docherty is confident his players can eradicate their recent defensive lapses this weekend when they face Ross County at Pittodrie.
The Dons have kept only one clean sheet in nine matches, although they still possess the third best defensive record in the Scottish Premiership, thanks mainly to conceding only three times in their opening eight games.
The Aberdeen rearguard looked nervy at times during Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Hamilton Accies but Docherty believes his side can shut out the Staggies tomorrow.
He said: “I think we’ve only one loss in the last four games and that was away against Celtic. In our previous game at home we kept a clean sheet against Dundee United.
“I thought it was a good performance against a Dundee United team fighting for its life. We looked secure at the back and I thought we looked a real threat going forward.
“There’s no concern. Our last performance, I’ll admit, wasn’t our greatest. But it is the sign of a good team when you’re not at your best and playing at a difficult venue but you still come away with a point.
“We’ll go into the game on Saturday looking to keep a clean sheet and looking to pose a threat at the other end.
“I wouldn’t say there’s any anxiety. Certain things go for you when you’re on a good run and certain things don’t go for you when you are not on a good run.
“The more clean sheets you get the more opportunity you get to win a game.
“We’ve been working hard in training this week to try to make sure that is the case because we have certainly got players who can score out of nothing.
“We need to make sure if we are in that position again we do take these chances.”
The Dons are likely to again be without captain Ryan Jack, who sustained an ankle injury during the international break. But Docherty says they will give the 23-year-old every opportunity to prove his fitness.
He said: “This weekend will possibly be too soon for him. He’s done quite a gruelling session with the physios and there’s real progress.
“If not this week then hopefully he will be available next week.
“It was a totally innocuous challenge in training during the international break.
“Ryan’s a quick healer and the physios are very happy with the progress he’s making.”