Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes hopes his side have overcome a major early psychological hurdle after getting their first win of the season.
The Dons were far from their best but they dug deep to take all three points thanks to substitute Ryan Hedges’ late winner at St Johnstone on Thursday.
It was the pick-me-up McInnes craved after seeing three of his side’s games postponed due to a breach of return to play coronavirus protocols by eight of his players and the Aberdeen boss hopes his side can build on their first win.
He said: “Getting that first win of the season is massive, I’ve said that all through my career as a manager.
“If you go a few without it, you get asked about it, the pressure builds, it becomes an issue, so having missed out on playing three matches, it was important to get up and running tonight.
“We can clearly improve in our performance and I think we will as we go through the games.
“In the short term it’s about getting through the games without (strikers) Ryan (Edmondson) and Sam (Cosgrove), but we’ll have two players back on Sunday, which will help us.”
The Dons return to action tomorrow when Livingston visit Pittodrie. Gary Holt’s side have not won any of their opening four matches, but having held Rangers to a goalless draw at Almondvale last weekend, McInnes believes Livi, who this week sold striker Lyndon Dykes to Queen’s Park Rangers for £2million, are finding their rhythm.
He said: “Livingston will be a test on Sunday. They’ve got their identity back in the last couple of games, Gary Holt has said that, the work rate and the discipline of the team.
“They set out to get a point against Rangers and they got it by scrapping and working and you have to respect that. They’ve lost their talisman striker and they need to rely on other things, the way we do at the minute with Sam Cosgrove and Curtis Main out.
“Their energy and discipline is outstanding and it’s something we’re going to have to overcome.
“Hopefully we can address the number nine situation, get a couple more boys back involved, we’ve got options from the bench and we’ll be ready to go again on Sunday.”
Attacker Bruce Anderson and defender Scott McKenna, who both missed the trip to McDiarmid Park on Thursday, are back in contention.