Adam Rooney completed his fourth hat-trick as an Aberdeen player this afternoon. He has now scored 81 goals for the club. After the game he spoke to RedTV and the media:

Adam Rooney

“It is always nice to get a hat-trick. The main thing was to get a win before we go into the international break.

“The first one was a great in swinger from Stevie. It is always hard for a defender. It is good for an attacker because you know if someone is going to whip the ball in you can get across defenders and make an early run. His cross was right on the money.

“For the second one Stevie has put a great corner in and Anthony has given me a little assist!

“As strikers we both know where you want the ball to be delivered. Stevie knows where I will be. In the wide areas he can put over some great crosses. He put over a couple of other great balls that I did not quite manage to get on the end of. It is always nice to play with Stevie as he is a great player. Everyone can see the ability he has.

“When we got the penalty, Kenny was shouting over to get the sub on because he thought I was going off! No seriously it was nice to score a hat-trick. It always is. Quite a lot of my hat-tricks have been completed from the penalty spot. I was always confident of sticking it away.

“I think we looked very strong today. I wouldn’t say it was an easy win, but I thought we were in control throughout the game and never looked in any real danger. It is as comfortable as win as we have had against St Johnstone since I have been here. All over the pitch I though we looked very solid and looked solid as a unit.

“The lads at the back looked very solid and headed everything and cleared their lines. We restricted them to few chances and we were dangerous at the other end. We’ve not really kicked into top gear either but I think the last couple of games we’ve looked solid and hopefully that’s a sign of things to come.

“Scott McKenna is a bit strong lad. When you see him at the gym he puts in the work. He is always in the gym working hard to improve himself. He is some shape. He is a big strong lad and most strikers get thrown around by him, including in training. He is still very young and looks like having a good career ahead of him, that is for sure.

“It is one of our best performances of the season. The games we won at the start of the season we did not perform as well as that.

“With the turnover (of players) in the summer it was always going to take a little while before we found our rhythm.

“Considering the lads are still gelling and we are still trying to find a system, we are unbeaten and joint top of the league so I think it’s been a great start to the season.

“If we can sit at the top of the league when we have not been at our best, it is a positive sign.

“As a player you obviously want to be playing and helping out as much as you can and not sitting on the bench. It’s up to whoever’s on the bench to get in and show what they can do. I’ve always said as long as I’m on the pitch I can score goals so it was nice to get a start and get the three goals.

“The gaffer looks at every game differently depending on who we are lining up against and he picks the team he feels is the best to win the game. Obviously I want to start all of them and when you don’t its disappointing, but it’s important when you take the chance you take it.

“I know when we lost Jonny and Niall people were questioning about the service, but I think today the amount of great balls into the box from the likes of Stevie, Christie and McLean showed we can deliver. It makes it easier for a striker when you have got that level of service coming into the box.

“It is always nice to be at the top of the league. That is always where we want to be regardless of what stage of the season you are at. It is a sign that you are doing things right.

“The lads will get a few days off and hopefully we will come back from the international break back raring to go again.

“Hopefully when we come back we can pick up where we left off.”