Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is counting on the Scottish Cup to help maintain his side’s momentum towards the end of the season.
The Dons face Hibernian next month for a place in the showpiece finale of the Scottish football season in May and McInnes has set his sights on ending the campaign in style.
The Reds’ form has tapered off in recent seasons due to them having nothing to play for but McInnes is demanding a strong finish from his side.
He said: “Celtic have won the league with four games to go and three games to go the last couple of years and we’d nailed second spot long before that.
“But what we didn’t have in the last couple of seasons was a Scottish Cup to focus on as well. We’re hoping that having a semi-final to focus on and look forward to will help us with our league form and our cup form will help us with our league form.
“There’s plenty for us to look forward to. Hopefully, that focus for the team helps delivers the performances that we’re capable of.”
The Aberdeen manager, whose side started the season on June 30, believes the winter break has brought freshness to his squad and alleviated any fatigue.
McInnes said: “You would have to say initially the winter break has helped us. The form we’ve been in since has been good. But we’ll only really be able to reflect on how important that winter break was for us at the end of the season.
“I still see that freshness in the squad. I’ve got decisions to make every week – it’s not like I’m picking the same team all the time without really thinking about it.
“I’ve got players who are really making me think, especially from what they’ve given me in training and bits and pieces off the bench. That pleases me.”
The Dons can take a huge step towards securing European football for the fourth year in a row when fourth-placed Hearts visit Pittodrie today and the Dons manager is delighted his side has built a commanding lead on the Jambos.
McInnes said: “To be 14 points clear of Hearts at this stage of the season pleases me. We would have taken that at the start of the season because there wasn’t a lot between us going into the campaign.
“I thought we would have had to overcome that challenge. I think they’ve said it often enough to try and overcome us last year and this year, so I think we’ve had a bit more stability which may have helped us with results.”