Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has warned the doubters his side will get better after the Dons all but sewed up runners-up spot in the Scottish Premiership after a 2-1 win against Hearts on Sunday.
The victory in Edinburgh gives McInnes’ side a nine-point lead on third-placed Rangers and, with the Dons boasting a goal difference which is 23 more than Pedro Caixinha’s side, with three games remaining second place is a formality.
McInnes is pleased with his side’s consistency this season and, while he believes his players have room for improvement, he was delighted with the mental strength shown by his side at Tynecastle.
McInnes said: “Yes, we need to try to get better – and we’ll strive for that with the players, in terms of the quality and getting more from good positions.
“We want to go into the Scottish Cup final on the back of tip-top performances.
“We were shy of that at Hearts. But what we weren’t shy of was the honesty and how relentless we were in working for all three points.”
Sunday’s victory was doubly satisfying for the Aberdeen manager as his players silenced their critics after splitting Celtic and Rangers.
McInnes said: “A lot of people questioned us.
“When we got to 70-odd points in the last couple of season, people were saying it was because Rangers weren’t in the league.
“A lot of people – not everyone but the majority – thought we’d get pushed aside and we wouldn’t be able to get to the same levels.
“For us to get to 70 points again and to take a huge step towards getting second spot, that says so much about the honesty of the players.
“It was summed up, for me, in one passage of play with two minutes to go.
“Shay Logan was high up the pitch, Kenny McLean got caught on the ball – and he made an 80-yard sprint to prevent what could have been a really vulnerable moment for us.
“Shay sensed danger and sprinted. That summed up what we are as a team. The honesty is ripping out of us.
“We’re not celebrating yet. But there’s no doubt it’s a huge step towards second.
“You could see the reaction from the supporters at full time, the reaction from the players and staff – that’s how much we wanted those three points.
“I think we all know the significance of getting the win.”