Jonny Hayes was pleased to see the week’s work on the training pitch come to fruition in Aberdeen’s 3-2 win at Charlton Athletic.

“We’ve been working more on the pattern and style of play as pre-season has gone on. Sometimes we’re willing to give up territory and possession, but we know we can then break at pace and hurt teams on the counter-attack, expose the opposition from there. We saw some of that today because I thought we looked a lot more organised than we did at Preston. We might have had five or six goals in the first half.”

The togetherness that was vital to the Dons’ recovery in the final third of last season was very much in evidence again at The Valley.

“It’s important we all have each other’s back. We attack together, defend together, put our bodies on the line for each other. I’ve run out of clichés now! But it is true, that’s how you go and have success and that camaraderie that we have on and off the park is an important part of that.”

Dante Polvara was particularly impressive as Aberdeen powered into a 3-0 lead at the break and Hayes hopes he will have a big part to play in the season ahead.

“Dante has all the attributes you need. He’s a young kid, he’s crossed the Atlantic, it takes time to settle to a different kind of game and a different approach and that’s why he wasn’t an immediate first team choice.

“The loan spell was very beneficial for him, and I also think the way the manager wants us to play now, it suits his game. We’ve always realised at the club that he is a long-term project with a great future ahead of him.”