Midfielder Cammy Smith is confident Aberdeen’s drop in form will have no bearing on their attempt to reach the League Cup final tomorrow.
The incredible eight-game winning run in the Scottish Premiership has tailed off following two draws.
It is a measure of the progress made at Pittodrie this season that 26 points from a possible 30 has been greeted with annoyance by the players at letting four points slip away rather than focus on the remarkable level of consistency.
But as the Dons prepare for their semi-final against Dundee United at Hampden tomorrow Smith has his own goal to pursue, earning a starting berth in the team.
It was Smith who benefited from Jonny Hayes’ unfortunate shoulder injury in last year’s final against Caley Thistle when he joined the fray in the sixth minute.
But as the Dons try to earn a place in the final Smith, who impressed in his second-half showing from the bench at St Johnstone last Friday in the league, hopes he has done enough to make the team.
He said: “I feel like I did all right when I came on against St Johnstone, but we didn’t take the three points and it is important we bounce back for what is a massive game. I just hope I’ve done enough to earn a starting place as the semi-final is a game I am itching to be involved in.
“We’re going to have 20,000 with us and it’s important we get back to being ruthless and keeping clean sheets.
“We have to earn the right to win games. We’re a big club and when you wear the Aberdeen shirt there is an expectation. We have set high standards at this club and we’ve fallen below those standards in the last two games. Beating Dundee United and getting to another final is the perfect way to put it right, one cup is not good enough now.”