Jim Goodwin doesn’t quite buy the notion Aberdeen missed out on a golden chance to pick up an easy three points against Rangers at Pittodrie last week. But the Dons gaffer is looking for his side to pick up where they left off before the enforced break when they head to Hibs on Saturday.
The Red Army were hoping to pile more misery on Gers last weekend on the back of the Ibrox side’s defeats to Celtic and Ajax. It wasn’t to be as Goodwin and his men were left cooling their heels after the call off but the Pittodrie gaffer is out to maintain the strong start to the season when they get back to business.
Goodwin said: “Rangers weren’t in great form going into the game last weekend and we had been playing quite well so we were quite confident and optimistic. But I would have to say that their performance on Wednesday night against a really strong Napoli side was very good. Before the sending off I thought they held their own. It might not have been as easy as some people might have anticipated.
“When you are playing well as we were then you don’t want any kind of a break. You want to try and maintain that momentum.
“But on the other hand we had a couple of players with little niggles and knocks and the break has not done them any harm. I think we are all delighted that football is back up and running this weekend.”
Aberdeen are running in to another side who are struggling for form with Hibs making a stuttering start to the campaign. Goodwin is wary of the likes of Martin Boyle though and he doesn’t think the Easter Road club are more dangerous than their results suggest.
He said: “Boyle is a very good player and he has proven to be a match-winner for Hibs over the years. He is going to be a big player for them again, no doubt. He is a match-winner.
“Over the last couple of seasons, you look at the amount of games that Hibs won and the involvement he had at key moments, in terms of goals or assists. We know what Martin will bring to Hibs but they also have other players there who I think are very good players.
“It remains to be seen what Hibs team we will face on Saturday and the team selection that Lee Johnson goes with but I am not fooled by the poor run of form they are on at the moment. We are expecting a very difficult game. Easter Road has always been a great venue to go and play at and I have always enjoyed going there as a player and a manager. It is always a good atmosphere, a good pitch and a fantastic modern stadium.
“Our lads will certainly be excited for it and we just want to carry on the good run that we are on. We are on a half-decent unbeaten run at the moment. We have scored plenty of goals and we are not conceding too many of late either, which is important. “Hopefully that will remain the case on Saturday.”
Aberdeen are one of the clubs trialing late kick-offs when the clash with Dundee United next month set for a 6pm start on the Saturday night. Goodwin likes the plan and said: “I am up for it. I always enjoy evening games anyway. Saturday is a bit different, I think it adds to the atmosphere, personally.
“The club and other clubs involved should be congratulated for trying something a bit different, something outside the box. There are a lot of people in society where a three o’clock kick-off on a Saturday doesn’t suit them.
“We will see what impact it has. I know the old traditionalists out there will just like their three o’clock kick-offs and that’s the way it should be. But in the modern game and with the way that society is, I think we need to be open-minded and not afraid to try something new.
“If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work and we will go back to the old way. But if it does work then maybe other teams out there will follow suit."
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