After the 1-0 victory over St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes spoke to RedTV:

“Results are not the most important thing although it is always nice to win.

“The main aim today was to get minutes under the players belts. Some players were needing a full 90 minutes which they managed to get.

“It was also important to get some confidence into the players ahead of Thursday’s game. Whatever way you get that confidence from, whether it be from your general fitness, your sharpness, goals for strikers, clean sheets for the defenders or whether it is just from winning the game, it is important each player feels confident going into the match. Therefore I am pleased with the way things went this afternoon.

“It was certainly a step up from the previous two games we have had and both teams will feel the benefit of that.

“Going into your first competitive game you are never totally sure how things will go, even when you have had a proper long pre-season with six or seven games. Nothing really prepares you for that first game. We have to play with an edge to our play on Thursday.

“Going into the game I do though take confidence from the way the players have worked since they came back and I take confidence from the strength we have got.

“We can be quite flexible. We tried a few different formations within the 90 minutes there.

“You always want to win your first game of the season. No matter what competition you are playing in and you want to get the season up and running. You want to get that confidence running through the team.

“We have said time and time again we want to do well in Europe. We understand the importance of it to the club. We have put the demand on ourselves to be ready and we are ready. On that plane we have the players to do the job.”

The manager confirmed there were no injuries in the game today therefore all the players in the first team squad should fly out on Thursday. Kenny McLean, who missed the game today, took a knock in the match against Brechin but should be fit to travel.