what’s in Saturday’s 84 page matchday magazine:

David Goodwillie

“I know the manager from when I was a youngster at Dundee United and he was in the first team. We trained together quite a few times. He was a senior player and very well respected by everyone at Tannadice.

“He was a good player, a fantastic professional who always made time for the young boys. He was good with the young players back then and he is still very good with them today. He has not changed.

“His management is very good. He knows when you are unhappy and he will take you aside and speak with you. He will take players into his office in a weekly or even daily basis. He knows how to handle different players and different types of personalities. At the end of the day, footballers are no different to the general public, we all have to be managed in different ways. The gaffer is very good at that.

“Tony is a very good guy as well. You can speak to him about things, anything that is bothering you. All the players trust him and he has good management skills as well. I have known him for a long time as he was also at Tannadice, so we have a good relationship. They both know how to get the best out of me and I think that is showing out on the pitch at the moment.

“I am loving my time at Aberdeen. The lads have made me feel very welcome and I have settled in very well. There is a great togetherness in the dressing room, in fact both dressing rooms if you include the U20 one, and there is a real closeness around the club in fact, all the staff, the players, everyone.

“This is a real, proper football club here. It is run well. Everything is there for you. It is a great place to come in to work in the morning. The players and the team are going places, it’s very exciting to be here because you can see the potential for the future.”

Derek McInnes

“The fact the players received a standing ovation from the supporters at the end speaks volumes but ultimately in a cup game, it is all about getting through to the next round which we didn’t manage to do. We have got to learn to keep our guard up at all times regardless of how dominant we are in a game and it’s also important that we turn that dominance and possession into more goals.

“We have to use that disappointment to try and spur us on and we now focus on what we can do in the league starting today and when the League Cup semi-final come around at the end of next month focus on trying to get the Club into another cup final. I want reward for the supporters for the backing we get and also for my players for the effort they put in, I see how much they want to win and how much they want to do well.”

Russell Anderson

“We’ve actually got more points than we managed at the same stage last season, so in the dressing room, we feel we are in good shape for what’s to come over the next few months.

“What we need to do is translate that into results now but there’s a real belief among the players that we can do just that. With the support that we’ve been getting. There’s a real feeling of togetherness at the club at present and that can take you a long way during a busy period such as the one coming up. There’s a lot to look forward to in the next few weeks, and a big opportunity for us to move up the league. We need to make sure we take that chance.”

Kieran Gibbons

“I was just sitting on the bench, absorbed in the game (Partick Thistle v Aberdeen), feeling quite relaxed, and then I noticed the gaffer having a chat with Tony and Paul. The manager then turned round and told me to go and warm up. I think it was the quickest warm up I have ever done! Jeffrey beside me was calmly going through his routine behind the goal and I was running back and forth like an Olympic sprinter!

“I was more nervous doing the warm up because I had a bit of time to think about things. When the manager called me back up, I actually felt ok because it all happened quickly and next thing I knew I was on the pitch.
“I was so delighted to get on and be involved and it was a great feeling doing my little bit to help the team get a victory.

“The U20s have been doing very well as a team this year and it is good to see a good representation of the U20s involved in the squad in recent weeks. When I played, I felt I was representing all the boys in the 20s.”

Plus all the usual features, columns and club news

How to Buy

RedMatchday 13 costs £3 and is available from the programme sellers in and around the ground. It is on sale now from the AFC Club Shop and you can also buy a copy online by clicking here