Derek McInnes, the Aberdeen manager, can expect a hostile reception tonight when he takes his team to Ibrox to face Rangers for the first time since rejecting the club’s overtures, but he believes the pressure is all on the home side who, he claims, are favourites to be runners-up.
“At the start of the season Rangers were huge favourites to finish second and I think with the signings [Sean Goss, Jamie Murphy, Jason Cummings and Russell Martin on loan plus the recall of Andy Halliday and Michael O’Halloran], it’s even more so,” said McInnes.
“I have no idea what reception I’ll get but it’s not important,” he said. “What is important is what’s happening on the pitch; all the other stuff that goes on when you go to other grounds is immaterial.”
Aberdeen travel to Govan tonight, having failed to land a blow on their rivals in two previous meetings this season: a 3-0 defeat in Glasgow and a 2-1 loss at Pittodrie. Aberdeen have bolstered their squad for the second half of the campaign with the return of Niall McGinn, and the loan capture of Chidi Nwakali, the Nigerian midfielder from Manchester City who is still awaiting a work permit.
McInnes takes charge of Aberdeen against Rangers for the first time since rejecting their advances last month. Six weeks after Pedro Caixinha was sacked as manager, McInnes rebuffed the opportunity to replace him. However, he believes Rangers, who are in third place, three points behind Aberdeen, are better placed to secure second spot than his own club.
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“They have made some good, short-term signings this month, adding three international players,” McInnes said. “Only Celtic and Rangers are able to go out and do that. Russell Martin, Jamie Murphy and Jason Cummings are all internationals.”
The Aberdeen manager insisted he will not be fazed by scorn of the home support, but said that he is hoping that his team begin better than on their last trip to Ibrox, when they were two goals down inside 27 minutes.
“What it’s about is the players and what’s happening on the park. I am more concerned about making sure we get off to a better start than anything else. I don’t know if we have a point to prove because even if we win there is a lot of football still to be played.
“If we lose the game then it’s similar. But from our own point of view we want to give a far better performance than we did the last time at Ibrox. We didn’t start well that night, Rangers were brighter on the day. They smelled blood and by the time we settled we were 2-0 down and facing an uphill task.”
McInnes, who said that he remained hopeful of negotiating a contract with Anthony O’Connor, distanced himself from the Scotland position, though he admitted that managing the national team is something he would like to do in the future.
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“I don’t know if the uncertainty [about the speculation linking him with Rangers] was a factor last time,” he added. “It’s an easy thing to assume. But when the game starts it’s about the players and how they perform. We all have to take responsibility for results.”