Graeme Shinnie was the player who spoke to the media this week to preview Saturday’s cinch Premiership fixture against Ross County.
“There are no surprises in football. I have been in it long enough to know the ins and outs of it. The international break has been good opportunity to rest a little bit and also work hard on the training pitch this week ahead of the big game tomorrow. That has been our sole focus – getting the rest and getting the work done on the training pitch.
“It is has not been unsettling. Things were addressed on Monday morning with the plan on what was going to happen this week. So that set the record straight for the players and the staff going into the game on Saturday. It helped get everyone in the right frame of mind.
“All the players know Peter. Peter knows all the players. Training has been very very good and we have been working towards the game.
“At this stage of the season, for us as player and for the staff now, we have got to work tirelessly in training to build up to the big games coming up. That is where our focus has been.
“There are all big games, especially at this stage of the season. Being at a club like Aberdeen, again every game is a big game because there is a massive demand on winning games and that is something we have failed to do this season on many occasions. As of now, all that matters is getting as many points on board as well can.
“We had a good performance at Motherwell and won a good three points but too many times this season we have not built on that and got a run going. We have had no momentum in our league campaign. We have let ourselves down. It is vitally important that we build on that Motherwell performance and bring that into the game on Saturday.
“It is a boring answer, but all we can do is focus on ourselves. If we focus on what we need to do, at home, at Pittodrie with the crowd behind us – our sole focus is on trying to win the game. We then move on to the Livingston game, looking to win that again.
“The Motherwell performance was a lot better than we have had in previous weeks in terms of using the ball better, getting into some good areas, we scored a great goal. So it is a case of bringing that again. If we can bring that composure on the ball and that attacking football then we know we have the ability in this team to win the game.
“We know the capabilities that are in this building, it is trying to bring that out in the games because we have not done it enough this season, in the league especially.
“Ross County, like ourselves will be coming down here with confidence coming off the back of some good results and performances against the Edinburgh teams. They will be looking at the game the same way we will. As I say though, if we play to our capabilities at home, we have enough to win the game.
“The fans will be focussed on the game as well. It is a Saturday afternoon and they are all there to watch their team, and to cheer their team on. They wont be thinking about anything outwith the performance on the pitch. They know what is at stake. They know what the players need to do and they will be right behind us like they have been throughout. It has been a tough season for them, especially in the league but they have stuck with us and got behind us so well. We had a massive support at Motherwell at thankfully we were able to send them up the road happy because that is something we have not done enough this season.
“They will be right behind us so it is up to us to put on a performance for them as well.
“It is important to start the game well. It sets the tone for the game. That is always important at home. We have had two weeks off, we have had two good weeks to build up for the game. The boys will be right up for it.”
