Emma Ilijoski sat down to re-cap on a six-goal thriller on our last outing and to preview Sunday’s game against Rangers. 

“Obviously Sunday didn’t going to go the way we wanted it to go, but it was encouraging. We were actually quite disappointed to have dropped points. I think as a team it shows where we’re at and there were still things that we didn’t get right, so we’re never satisfied. We’re at that point now as a team, so we’re keen to get back to training and looking forward to another good test this weekend.

“The second goal was so good. The whole move, it was the best we’d kept the ball all game. We all kind of felt something coming and the momentum was shifting towards our favour. What a header, one of the best you could get. Great ball from Maddie, good build up.

“I remember Hannah running towards me celebrating. It was such a nice feeling, the excitement and celebrating around the girls. Now it’s a learning point – how do we shut off the emotion at that point, and push for more? It’s a learning experience. As much as it’s a shame to have dropped points, we need to take that feeling into the next game.

“We’re always working on defending set pieces, so it was really disappointing. As a team we know that’s not good enough, so it was unfortunate to lose the game on two soft set pieces. We all know our responsibilities, it’s just about in the moment being switched on. We were definitely disappointed with that, knowing how hard we worked for the whole game and the standards we’ve set as a team. Sometimes in football it doesn’t always go to plan.

“Consistency is one of the biggest challenges. The best teams in the world have such good seasons because they find that consistency. Good teams don’t get too high on the highs or too low on the lows. We need to bring that every week. We’ve got quite a new team, new tactics, learning different things, so it’s all going to come together. We know how nice a win feels, and we don’t want that disappointment when we lose or drop points. We’re hungry to get that consistency. It’s about finding that fluidity, being able to find the triggers that make sure on a game day we know what we need to do to set the standard.

“I’m happy to play a role for the team. At the end of the day, I’m a footballer, I want to play. If the coaches see where I best fit, I’ll do a job. It’s good to be learning, playing at a high level, getting experience in different positions. If I’m on the pitch, I want to give my all to the team regardless.

“The midfield is the engine room of the team, so it’s a responsibility to learn how to take control of the moment and see what the team needs. Defensively it’s about sticking with your player, tracking your man, communicating. It brings out different elements I need to keep working on. It’s a good challenge and I’m enjoying it.

“Now we’re at a point where it’s exciting to play against these top teams. We want to put our best foot forward, show them what we can do. We respect them, but we know our own ability and the challenges we can bring. We’ve had difficult results in the past, but now we know what we can offer. We’re switched on to go out there and get the three points.

“It’s definitely a process. There’s been a lot of change, a lot of good change. Sometimes it can be frustrating and difficult, but as a team we’ve come together and it’s good to look back and see how far we’ve come. It’s good that we’re frustrated at results nowadays. That shows hunger, because Aberdeen as a club need to be better. We can’t be beaten by those types of score lines. The team knows the standards of the club and we need to uphold them.

“Scott and Katie have come in from day one and set the standards. It’s taken time to test those, see what’s lacking, see what we’re doing well. There was a bit of a teething period, but now everyone’s aware of the standards. Not just standards in general, but standards in training, on matchdays, against the top teams, against anyone. We know what we have to do as a team to be the best. We try not to focus too much on outside forces — it’s about us. If we bring our best standards, we can achieve what we want.”