Aberdeen can revive title bid, says Willie Miller

Willie Miller believes Aberdeen can bounce back from blip. Picture: SNS

Aberdeen legend Willie Miller used to win so often at Celtic Park in the golden era of the Dons that it almost became routine.

Remarkably, Aberdeen won eight times in 10 visits between 1979 and 1983 when Alex Ferguson changed the history of the club forever.

The recent record, however, is miserable – it’s 11 years since their last league 
success – but Miller feels Saturday is the perfect chance to reawaken the Dons’ title aspirations.

He said: “It’s an opportunity for them to put the last four league games behind them and prove to the nation that the first eight games 
of the season are the real Aberdeen.

“These eight games were fabulous defensively with only two goals against and in that run they beat Celtic, which they didn’t do last season, so there was a lot to be pleased about.

“Now they have hit this little blip in the league, which has surprised everybody – particularly the amount off goals they have lost.

“So I think this gives them an opportunity to bounce back and make a statement that they’re still there and there is still intent there to take the title race certainly into the new year and as long as they 
possibly can.

“If I was the manager I would be saying a point would be good because it was four defeats last year. We’ve already beaten them at Pittodrie and if we get a draw at Celtic Park it’s a decent result, absolutely.

“So I don’t think that’s a disaster by any means and I’m sure Aberdeen would take it.

“But the full three points would be a magnificent result for them and it would put them right back up there very close to the champions.

“So I’m sure Derek McInnes will be looking for a good performance and if he can get the three points it would be a wonderful result.”

Celtic have been vulnerable at the back, especially in Europe, and Miller feels the Dons can get at them – but he insists McInnes’ side must be strong defensively as a complete unit.

Miller said: “Aberdeen have got five or six players who are capable of causing Celtic problems but the concern for me is the amount of chances the opposition have created against Aberdeen in recent games.

“Celtic are strong going forward so if the defence can be shored up and they can find their form then I still feel Aberdeen can cause Celtic problems going forward.”