‘I am absolutely delighted. With the circumstances before the game we showed a lot of determination, a lot of good play and as an away team coming here we had a fair level of control of the game for long spells. Once we went in front there was a level of maturity about our performance and I thought we managed that well as well.

“We were bemoaning a lack of quality in the final third with crosses, that final pass and our set-play delivery as we had real opportunities time and time again to put real pressure on United and I thought we let them off the hook at times. That’s nit-picking though as we would have took that result before the game, coming here as an away team with everything that we had to endure we should be talking about the strength and determination of the players.

“It was important that if we were to lose the first goal today we had that freshness to get back in it. I always felt that we would be fit enough but we couldn’t have had tired minds today, we had to treat it like the first game of the season with that anticipation and excitement of it being the first day of the season because our fans were treating it that way and we had to do the same.

“Danny made himself big and stuck out a left hand and it was a great save at a pivotal moment in the game. You are never going to come to a venue like United and get it all your own way, you are probably going to need your keeper to make a couple of good saves and he did his job there.

“We are grateful to Liverpool and Brendan for them seeing Aberdeen as a good choice for him to go out on loan and we are now giving him the benefit of playing in games like this, European games and he is rewarding us with performances.

“We can’t affect what everybody else is saying, good and bad. That level of expectation has been there since day one and this is why we were keen to take this job on. Players should want to sign for Aberdeen, there must be an element when they sign, whether they have come through the youths or outwith that they come to Aberdeen to win things and be successful.

“We are confident with how we work and that we have a good dressing room that can deliver results and we are all here to try to win things and achieve something and I feel as though the players feel that. The support have more than played their part and we told the players that they would come here and give us great backing.

“Aberdeen have got off to good starts in the past but I feel that there is something real about my team, I feel that in every game we play we will make it difficult for the opposition and we might not always be at our best but we will make it tough for them because we see the importance of winning.

“I am delighted for Kenny who I thought was the best man on the park.  He came as a goal scoring midfielder and a lot was expected of him, probably too much was made of the fact that he maybe wasn’t doing as well as people perceived. That comes when a club like ours pays a fee which is out of the ordinary but we always felt that he was always contributing with his performances, but the perception from supporters and the media is that he probably has to be scoring goals to justify his fee and it certainly helps.  He has had a good couple of weeks with three important goals.

“On Thursday there is anticipation that we will have 20,000 in Pittodrie getting right behind the team but it will only be a special night if we get the job done and get through. It’s going to be a big challenge as they are a good team as you have seen but bring it on, we are looking forward to it and it will be one that we will relish and try and set about in the right manner and hopefully it goes our way and we get through.’

“On Thursday there is anticipation that we will have 20,000 in Pittodrie getting right behind the team but it will only be a special night if we get the job done and get through. It’s going to be a big challenge as they are a good team as you have seen but bring it on, we are looking forward to it and it will be one that we will relish and try and set about in the right manner and hopefully it goes our way and we get through.’