Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has backed Stevie May to get back among the goals on a regular basis after watching the striker end his goal drought for the club yesterday.
May scored his first goal since September 16 as the Dons beat Kilmarnock 3-1 to reduce Celtic’s lead at the top of the table to three points.
May also had another goal incorrectly disallowed for offside and had a header deflected in for a Killie own goal in a strong showing at Rugby Park.
McInnes said: “He needed that. I can dress it up and say he’s still contributing and making good runs but you and I know that a centre forward needs his goals and doesn’t feel as good about himself unless he’s scoring.
“He’s got our last touch for the second goal that’s come off their boy, he’s got his six yard goal that should have stood and he’s got his individual goal. So he’s that away from a hat-trick today.
“He’s somebody who you always feels has goals in him and I think when we get to the end of the season he’ll be happy with his contribution.”
McInnes was pleased to see his side bounce back from their 2-0 home defeat to Motherwell with a strong showing at Rugby Park.
The Dons raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening 12 minutes and the win sets Aberdeen up for a big week with a double-header against Rangers starting with Wednesday’s trip to Ibrox.
McInnes said: “That’s 10 wins and two draws in our last 12 away games which shows a good focus and a good level of performance from us.
The Dons are six points clear of the managerless Gers but McInnes said: “I think you can look too much at getting away from people or staying in touch. We have to just concentrate on ourselves.
“You normally find when you get to the winter break that how the league sits is roughly how it will finish. It’s a good gauge of where you’ll be.
“We are a team that’s capable of going on winning runs and hopefully this is the start of another one.”
Dons striker May, meanwhile, hopes his goal in yesterday’s 3-1 win at Kilmarnock is the first of many.
May said: “It was pleasing to get back on the scoresheet.It was at the back of my mind but the results are the most important thing.
“The manager told me not to worry about the goals, they will come. He just wanted me to go out there, do my thing and get back to what I do best.”