Aberdeen midfielder Jamie McGrath insists the Dons’ victory against Ross County proves it is not all “doom and gloom” at Pittodrie.
Pressure had mounted on boss Barry Robson following a dismal 3-0 loss to St Mirren at Pittodrie last weekend.
Robson and the Dons were booed at full-time by many frustrated supporters following that loss to the Paisley Buddies.
Aberdeen are also languishing in the Premiership bottom six.
However McGrath reckons the 3-0 win at Ross County shows the Reds are on the right track.
He hopes the win is a catalyst for the Reds to rise up the Premiership table in 2024.
And McGrath also pointed out that for all the recent criticism – Aberdeen have won three of their last four league games.
McGrath, who netted a double against Ross County, said: “We were back at our best.
“It was important to get back to winning ways after the St Mirren defeat.
“That is three wins in our last four so it is not all doom and gloom.
“We knew it wasn’t good enough against St Mirren in front of our own fans so we had to bounce back.
“From minute one we were on it against Ross County who are a good side.”
Expectation playing for Aberdeen
The pressure was on Aberdeen to deliver an immediate response to the St Mirren defeat.
It was a loss that angered manager Barry Robson.
The defeat also left supporters angry.
On the pressure, McGrath said: “That’s what you get playing for Aberdeen, it is a massive club.
“The fans are right to expect better performances than we showed against St Mirren.
“It was important we gave the traveling fans something to cheer about and put St Mirren behind us.
“Of course Saturday wasn’t good enough but against Ross County we showed we are good players and a good team.
“We started the new year fresh and with three points.
“Hopefully it is a positive start now to the second half of the season.”
‘Feel-good factor’ going into the break
Republic of Ireland international McGrath netted a first half double in Dingwall to ensure the Dons began 2024 with a win.
The 27-year-old believes there will now be a “feel-good factor” at the club as the Premiership enters a winter break.
The midfielder said: “I don’t think it was a 3-0 game (against St Mirren) as they scored two late goals as we were trying to counter and break them down.
“They got us on the counter.
“It was not for lack of effort as we have been trying our hardest to win games.
“But we know we have to win our games at home.
“It was important to go into the break with three points against Ross County and that feel-good factor.”
McGrath’s hat-trick hopes dashed
McGrath thought he had an opportunity to bag a hat-trick from the penalty spot against Ross County, but it wasn’t to be.
A penalty was initially awarded to the Dons when 3-0 up for a foul on Ester Sokler by Jack Baldwin, who was sent off.
Leading scorer Bojan Miovski is the regular penalty taker.
With McGrath on a hat-trick his team-mates decided to let him take the spot kick.
However the penalty went to a VAR review and was over-ruled as the foul was adjudged to have been outside the 18 yard box.
Aberdeen were instead awarded a free-kick.
McGrath said: “I was licking my lips when it was a penalty and the boys gave it to me which was nice.
“It wasn’t to be but as long as we got the three points, that is what matters.
“Coming away with a win was the aim – and we did that with style.
“When we had to be clinical we were and once we got that first goal it made the game a bit easier.
“For whatever reason we clicked from minute one.”
Switching to four at the back
Aberdeen boss Robson switched from his preferred three at the back to a four man rear-guard against Ross County.
The tactical change paid off as the Dons registered a first Premiership clean sheet since October.
McGrath said: “The gaffer picked a system that would work against the opposition.
“Ross County played some really good stuff as we had watched them in their last few games since their gaffer (Derek Adams) came in.
“It might change the next game who knows.
“We didn’t have too much time to learn the formation over the last few days.
“But we took the information the gaffer gave us and it paid off.”
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