Derek McInnes: Aberdeen can take title challenge to the wire

Jonny Hayes in back in the Aberdeen squad after injury. Picture: SNS

The Pittodrie club travel to Firhill to play Partick Thistle this evening one point closer to the defending champions than they were at the same stage a year ago when they eventually finished the campaign 17 points adrift.

Victory against the Jags closes the gap to a single point ahead of Celtic’s visit to the same venue on Saturday, making these the ideal fixtures to judge what might unfold in the weeks ahead.

There certainly seems little sign of Aberdeen wilting under the pressure if their victory at Tannadice last week is anything to go by and they remain on course to exceed last season’s record points tally for a non-Old Firm club. That was the initial target set by McInnes when the Premiership got under way last summer as the primary indicator of the progress he has brought to the club since taking over three years ago this week.

There has already been progress in the head-to-heads as Aberdeen lost all four meetings between the top two last time but lead them 2-1 during this campaign prior to a post-split visit to Parkhead.

However, a first win at Celtic Park after 21 straight league defeats will only be truly significant if they are still in a position to exploit it fully and, with the level of expectation building, the Aberdeen manager knows outwith Pittodrie runners-up slot won’t earn plaudits.

“I thought last season people said we’d never have a better chance [to win the league] and here we are again,” he said. “At the start of the season our target was to beat our points tally from last year. I thought that would guarantee us second spot and European football.

“Where we are right now, we want to get past last season’s total as quick as possible. Hearts are chasing us down and we are chasing Celtic. We’re in the middle and have our own work to do.

“We won’t get pats on the back for finishing second. We want to push ahead of last season. We will be so focussed on each and every game because the players are intent on being a successful Aberdeen team.

“We are really looking forward to it. There’s no hesitation or dithering. It will be all out to win games. I am enjoying what I am seeing in training, the energy and determination, and the desire to show we can win games.”

He has certainly enjoyed watching training a lot more the last couple of days as Jonny Hayes has been back at full tilt after recovering from the hamstring injury that kept him out of the matches against St Johnstone and Dundee United.

Top scorer Adam Rooney and midfielder Peter Pawlett remain sidelined for the forseable future but Hayes has arguably been the Dons most consistent and influential performer this season.

Just having him back in the starting line-up tonight is a major bonus.

McInnes added: “Jonny trained brilliantly. He is fully charged up and ready to go.

“We want more goals from Jonny. That’s something he needs to add to his game to look for perfect performances but there have been very few games you could be critical of Jonny in terms of what he has given me in the last three seasons.”

Whatever does happen between now and the end of the season McInnes has reassured the Pittodrie club’s supporters that he will continue to improve the Aberdeen team year-on-year regardless of the opposition.

He added: “I think that it’s important that we keep trying to improve the squad, improve things off the pitch, improve training facilities, the little things like that.

“I don’t think that, all of a sudden, Aberdeen supporters should have their heads in their hands just because it looks as if Rangers and Hibs are maybe coming back into the league. We’ll be ready for the challenge of any team coming into the league.”