Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists his players should be proud of their efforts in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Tomorrow’s encounter at Celtic may not be the title decider McInnes hoped for but the Dons manager is full of praise for the way his side has taken the challenge to the Hoops this season.
The Dons lost all four encounters against Celtic last season but have won two of their three meetings with the champions-elect this term.
Only a win will be good enough for the Dons to prevent Celtic being officially crowned champions tomorrow – although Celtic’s superior goal difference means it is only a matter of time before a fifth successive title is confirmed.
McInnes said: “There was always a questionmark over us when we didn’t beat them in four games last season and we have answered that this time.
“It is important we have beaten them twice at Pittodrie this season and I think we have laid down a marker with those performances.
“That said, Celtic deserve credit for the fact that they have lost just three games in the league this season.
“They have had a lot of criticism and they probably haven’t got what they wanted from the campaign as they spoke about a domestic treble and the group stages of the Champions League.
“That’s where they have fallen short but to only lose twice against us and once against Motherwell in the Premiership mirrors the sort of form of teams who win titles.
“We said we wanted to beat last season’s points tally and sustain a longer league challenge by getting closer to Celtic and we have probably achieved that.
“However, not so long ago we were putting the demand on for a bit more and that’s why it is disappointing we haven’t made this game as significant as it could have been.”
Adam Rooney’s hopes of being included in Ireland’s Euro 2016 squad have suffered a setback after it was confirmed he will miss tomorrow’s match and may not feature again this season.
He said: “Adam is out probably for the season. We’ll just make that decision and try to have him ready for pre-season and the European campaign.
“Adam will be scanned again on Tuesday. The medical advice was to get a scan three weeks after the last one to see the difference.
“He’s still functional and he’s able to run about but there’s still a bit of discomfort and, with where the tear was is in the thigh, he has to be careful.
“His concern now is just getting back for pre-season and it’s going to be tough for him to be fit for anything else. We’ll have a better idea after Tuesday’s scan.”