After two weeks of frustration following a last-minute defeat by Celtic prior to the international break, Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is confident his players will respond at Partick Thistle on Sunday.
Virgil van Dijk’s Celtic winner was harsh on the Dons but McInnes wants his players to use the pain of defeat as the catalyst for a Firhill win.
He said: “When we lose games I analyse everything. Sometimes when we win a game the result masks everything and the temptation is to not be as analytical as you should be.
“Losing games is a horrible feeling. It is like the worst hangover after the game and the cure doesn’t start until you get back into the work.
“That is the way it has always been.
“That is why you have to keep defeats to a minimum as otherwise you drive yourself mad. But we have tended to respond well after setbacks.
“We enjoyed a strong campaign last year and we are only one point behind where we were at this stage of the season and have made it through to a cup semi-final.
“It gives me encouragement because I still think there is more to come from us and, hopefully, we can show that over the next run of games.”
The Dons won seven matches out of eight over the festive period last year which propelled them into pole position to finish best of the rest in the Premiership.
They were eventually pipped for the runners-up spot by Motherwell but McInnes knows the festive fixtures represent a great opportunity for the fifth-placed Dons to close the gap on teams above them.
He added: “We know we can improve but there has been a lot to like about us this season.
“We have had some good victories and we have scored plenty of goals. That is something I feel we have improved on in comparison to last season.”
The Dons will be without defender Shaleum Logan. The 26-year-old is serving a one-game ban after being sent off in the aftermath of the Celtic defeat.
Midfielder Willo Flood is also sidelined because of a hamstring injury but captain Russell Anderson is nearing full fitness after knee surgery.
Anderson, 36, has not featured since a 1-0 defeat by St Johnstone in Perth in August.