Derek McInnes is looking for one more push as the Dons head to Livingston tomorrow for their ninth game of the month. “It’s important we try and finish the month off in winning ways, December has been really demanding on everyone, staff, supporters and especially the players with the physical output they have to give.

“We’ve picked up a couple of injuries as a consequence of just too many games, with Niall and Max’s groin problems, and I do think the players have acquitted themselves very well, won some important games in December and their focus has been good as it’s not just the physical aspect but trying to be at our best for each and every game but we know the importance of tomorrow and I’m sure the players will give one last effort before we get a few days off.”

The Dons gaffer knows it won’t be easy on a surface that the season’s Premiership’s surprise package have been almost impossible to get the better of on. “They have surprised a lot of people, having sustained their form so far into the campaign and they deserve a lot of credit, they’ve only lost once at home and some good teams have gone there and came away with nothing or just a point so to win there will be a big ask for us but that is the intention. We have to go to difficult places throughout the season and although we haven’t been to Livingston yet, we recognise the challenge ahead of us and it’s important that we’re ready for what’s coming and try and stand up to the good of what they’ve got as a team but also impose ourselves on them.”

“The game here was very hard fought and I expect to be similar again.”

With the Stevie May-Sam Cosgrove partnership gelling up front, the pair will be going into this one full of confidence. “I think it’s clear when they get among the goals, the perception is they’re doing so much better, and rightly so, their job is to score goals but their hold-up play, workrate putting teams under pressure, getting us up the pitch , that’s been there for a long time. The added part and the most important part is that they’re now scoring goals and everybody’s recognising what they are doing so they’re going into each game with confidence and I think each of them is making the other better and both are playing a big part in making us more potent. Fifteen goals in the last five games is good shooting as a team at any time of the season.”

With up to 3500 of the Red Army in attendance tomorrow, the home fans will be outnumbered and that will also play a significant part tomorrow. “It’s fantastic, it’s some going and that’ll make it the kind of game that will help the players, it’ll feel like a cup tie and they’ll generate that noise and get right behind the team. We’re not going to get it all our own way when you go away from home, the game might be a bit untidy at times, you’ve got to make sure you fight your corner but hopefully there’s enough good moments in the game that we can send there fans home happy and make that the last memory of 2018, because the year has been good in a lot of aspects and hopefully we get those three points that are very important to us before we pick up in 2019.”