Throughout the season the RedMatchday Magazine has been packed with even more exclusive and in-depth interviews, even more player features, more behind the scenes photos, even more historical features, even more columnists plus some new features and has once again been named the top programme in Scotland by Programme Monthly & Football Collectable. It is the 16th straight season the Dons have won the award for the Top Division.

In Sunday’s RedMatchday there are three exclusive in-depth interviews with Ash Taylor, Shay Logan and Kenny McLean. 

Ash Taylor

I’d like to put before the court and jury here at Pittodrie the case for the defence. Because it’s my contention that for all the publicity that goes to the goalscoring exploits of those up further up the pitch, the foundation on which Aberdeen’s immense post-Christmas run of form has been built has been the way the men at the back have stood up to the challenge and let little or nothing past them.

Let’s call on Ashton Taylor to give evidence shall we?

…. “I think the defence has played an important part in the home run we are on especially. It is not just about the defenders though, we have been good defensively as a team, right from the front. I think the work rate of all the lads has been brilliant. Everyone wants to put a shift in for the team.

“For example, late in games when we have been protecting a lead, the forward players work tirelessly to stop balls coming into the box. The whole team’s defensive shape has also been good.

“It is good to have a sound defensive base because if we are keeping clean sheets, we will win more often than not because we can score goals from all sorts of areas. You are more than likely to win games if you are solid.”

“As a defender, I believe first and foremost I need to win my headers, my tackles, clear the ball – if you keep clean sheets then I am doing my job. If I get the chance to play the ball out then great, but you are not there to be a flair player, especially in our team. We have the likes of Kenny, Jacko and Shinnie in midfield and then Jonny and Niall who can do all that. They are the flair players. It is my job to keep the door shut.

…. “It is important that we make our home ground a really hard place for teams to come. I think we have done that over the years. Teams don’t like coming up here because they know they are in for a tough game.

…. “The only down side is that it means Shay has now got two more goals than me! He keeps getting on at me about it. I have not scored for a while so I must be due one! To be fair though, Shay is in the box a lot more often than me!

Shay Logan

…. “It is one of my main objectives each season. I base my game on consistency. I never want anyone to think “He has had a bad game”.

“I know that does happen and you can’t play well every game, but every time I go onto that field I give 110%. I am happy with my form and the team’s form. It certainly makes it easier for me to be consistent when you are playing in such a good side.

“We have had a lot of clean sheets as a defensive four or five. It is nice to be part of a solid team. We have only been beaten once at home all season and had a lot of wins. We are used to playing with each other. My closest friends in the team are probably the defenders as they are the guys I speak to most and spend most time with.

“We have done a lot more work as a defensive unit in training this season. Even if it is just 10 or 15 minutes after training each day, the defenders will stay behind and just practice attacking balls. We are solid. We have had the same sort of formation, the same sort of personnel for a while. I know where Ash is going to be. He knows where I am going to be. I can also shout at Ash if I am not happy with something and he can do likewise. We don’t take it personally and that is how it should be. We want a clean sheet, we want a win; we will do what we have to do to get it.

…. “We are all up there inside the box at some point during the game, whether it be open play or set pieces. If I score I make sure they know – Ash, Anto, Reynolds, Andy! I particularly have a bit of a competition with Ash about who scores the most goals. I have beaten him the past two seasons and will do so again this season!”

Kenny McLean

…. “I’m just pleased he (Andy Considine) is now getting the recognition he deserves. I saw a stat that every game in March was a clean sheet so four clean sheets for Andy and a hat-trick in one game, it hasn’t been a bad month for him!

“His consistency is a lesson to everyone. It is something a lot of young players struggle with especially. It is the hardest thing to master. We can all show the odd bit of quality but relying solely on your ability is not enough. Your work rate is absolutely central to contributing to every game.

“The way we have been playing recently, that is what it is down to, a consistent level of performance through the side. We have been setting the tempo in games. I am sure the fans are enjoying that. We can only play at a high tempo if our fitness is there. I think a big part of success recently has been that fitness.”

Plus features with Ryan Jack, Graeme Shinnie, Andrew Considine and Adam Rooney.

Ryan Jack

…. Making it ten wins in a row here at Pittodrie is a big achievement, we are very pleased with that because, especially at this time of the season when every team is really focused on whatever it is they are looking to achieve, games become even more fiercely contested and you can’t take anything for granted. So to maintain that run is great and it’s something we want to take on as far as possible.

…. We’ve had two really competitive fixtures against them this season, there hasn’t been a lot between the sides in those and so again, it’s all about bringing our best football to the game and looking to impose ourselves on the match.

Andrew Considine

Big Andy celebrated his 30th birthday last Saturday and he could not have got his birthday weekend off to a better start than he did at Dens on the Friday night. After scoring an incredible hat-trick in front of an ecstatic Red Army as the Dons won 7-0.

We think, along with Billy Williamson, Tommy Wilson, Frank Munro, George Kinnell and Joe O'Neil, he is only the sixth defender since the war to score three goals in a game. (source AFC Heritage Trust) The last player to do was Billy Williamson against Celtic in a famous 3-2 victory in 1975, although Billy did play in midfield at times and also when Joe O’Neil scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Rangers in a Scottish Cup Final in 1954 he was playing in attack that day. So in other words, it has not happened very often!

“I never thought I would see the day when I am being called a hat-trick hero! I’ve scored a brace in a couple of games over my career so far but to get a hat-trick is something special and it was in front of a packed away stand, so that was fantastic. The support was incredible.”

There is an interview with Seb Ross who has been impressing for the U20s recently, he was also part of the Scotland U17 squad who qualified for this summer’s European Championships in Croatia and he is also trying to help the Dons U17s win the SPFL Youth League.

Seb Ross

…. “I am a central midfielder and I have also played at right-back for the 20s. I am quite happy to play anywhere as long as I get game time. I know a number of very good midfielders have started their first team careers at right-back, like Ryan Jack.

…. “There’s a big group of boys coming up from the 17s. Some have already pushed their way into the 20s side whilst others are on the fringes.

…. “The coaches are manging our time between the U17s and the U20s but we are definitely going for the league. Whatever happens, the main thing is that there are some very talented players coming through the youth academy.

…. “The trip with Scotland went very well. Everyone was very pleased, especially the manager after the three games. It was a great achievement to get three wins out three.”

Our monthly history feature looks back at April 1980:

There was no respite for Aberdeen as they chased down what the media declared was an unassailable Celtic lead of 12 points following the wretched winter of 1980. With Aberdeen heavily involved in both cups, they had a backlog of league fixtures that saw them having to play eight league games in April alone.
History beckoned for manager Alex Ferguson and his side…

Plus there are articles from all our various columnists and all the usual features. Still available for only £3.00 – offering you our readers great value for money. Thank you for your continued support of the magazine.

RedMatchday Issue 24 is available from sellers in and around the ground. There will be copies available to buy in the club shop plus you can buy all the AFC programmes online here: www.curtis-sport.com