Leighton Clarkson produced an outstanding performance at the heart of Aberdeen’s 4-1 win, his midfield duet with Ante Palaversa setting the tone for the victory.
“We controlled the game, me and Ante, which helped us a lot. We thought they’d come and press us a little bit more, but they sat off and it allowed us to dictate the game and get the result.
“That position is something I’ve been doing for years when I was at Liverpool. I was always a six, but I had the freedom a bit to go wherever. Slattery was trying to press Shinnie, so if I went out, then he was a bit in between whether to pick me up or Shinnie. That allowed us to control the game and break further into their half.
“I thought we started all right and it was just a bit of a sucker punch in the first five minutes. Sometimes it’s hard to get going again, but as I say, we controlled the game. We had a lot of chances and thankfully we came through strongly.
“The corner for my goal was something we’ve worked on. I was meant to hit it first time, but I had to take a touch. I tried it on Friday in training and it didn’t come off, ended in Row Z! I was saving it for the game! Luckily enough, it went in.
“Peter Leven works on our set pieces. He’ll look at the opposition and where he thinks they might be a bit weak. It was just me on the edge of the area and we knew their player would go over when we took it short, so it left me free. It was just about aiming for that corner and thankfully it went in.
“I think Kevin’s second goal was the best of the four, though. I was right behind it as well, it had a bit of movement, it was a great strike. He always had that quality in the training, it just wasn’t coming off in games earlier in the season. But what I’d say is now, he’s getting a lot more chances to put away, and if you give a strike like that two or three chances, he will score, like he’s done today.
“It’s good to have secured our place after the split nice and early. Finishing in the top six is the first job at the start of every season, then you go from there. It’s just about kicking on and winning as many games as possible to get the third place.
“It’s been one of those mad seasons where it was all going for us and then it was all against us. We’re at the last push now, not many games left, so it’s just about getting the points on the board and seeing where we end up.
“Getting third place and guaranteed European football is massive. It’s something that when we come to Aberdeen, we get told that’s what we’re fighting for. We want to be playing in the European games. There’s a lot more eyes on yourselves, on the club. Financially, it will do a lot as well for the club. There’s a long, long way to go. We just need to grab as many points as possible.”
