Derek McInnes | Post Match Quotes |

“I think we have now won ten or eleven in a row against Kilmarnock.

“We have enjoyed the (artificial) pitch in the past because it has normally been wet when we have played and I think that makes a difference to the game. With the pitch also being a bit narrower and shorter as well as drier today, it meant we had to fight for that space to operate.

“Kilmarnock are a very competitive team and we knew we had to try and get on top of them.

“Although people will talk about all the movement and some brilliant goals, I thought the tenacity to get after them from the first minute, to work hard and get them turned, to create space to get Niall and James on the ball, Shinnie and McLean in midfield, our overlapping full backs, our dominant central defenders, to play the conditions; it was an almost perfect performance.

“We have good players (in the forward areas) and we had Storey, Stockley and Burns who came on. So we have good options and I think that competition is helping players bring a performance.

“Once we got a second goal it made it difficult for Kilmarnock and I thought we were quite ruthless. Although Rooney missed a couple of chances and we had a few other opportunities, to come away from home and score four goals, any manager has got to be pleased.

“It was a very good performance.

“As an away team you have to impose yourself on the game and we did that in the first half. Whilst it was just a penalty that separated the teams, the performance from us was very dominant. I thought McLean and Shinnie were very competitive in the middle. Going forward it looked like we were really enjoying the game. When McGinn, Hayes, Maddison and Rooney start to enjoy the game you feel as though there is a win in you.

“I have not seen the penalty again yet. I thought James had a lot to do to get on the end of what was a brilliant move. I thought the goalkeeper was favourite but he did not take charge of the situation and I think he pulls James down. I am not sure if it was a penalty but there was a foul on James.

“James brings real craft to a team that already has good pace and good players. He is a real technician and I also thought he worked really hard today. There are still areas he need to improve on but he has a big reputation and he showed just why today. I don’t think there is any Scottish blood in him!

“He has got the ability to make people look silly because his awareness and his touch are so good. He is at one with the ball. We are not too concerned with the treatment he gets. When he sucks players into the ball like he does, he is going to get kicked. But to his credit he just gets up and gets on with it and does not complain.

“This period has normally been a good one for us over the past few seasons. September has normally been a good month and we have got into our rhythm. We are still trying to find that consistency of performance and team selection. Hopefully by the time we come back from the international break Ryan Jack will be close to coming in.

“I am really pleased with what the players gave me today and with the way things are going at the minute. We now look forward to the Ross County game.

“I think we have been very consistent over the last three seasons but the challenge for us is to up that again. In all competitions, as we don’t just want to be consistent in the league, we want to be a strong cup team as well. Hopefully the squad will allow us to be competitive for longer in all competitions.”

Finally, the manager also rubbished newspaper reports suggesting that a French trialist was at the club.