Leighton Clarkson has insisted Stiliyan Petrov and the former Celtic stars who are writing Aberdeen off are wasting their breath.
The Bulgarian is amongst a number of former Hoops players who have dismissed the Dons’ title credentials – even though they are unbeaten in the league and sit joint top of the Premiership. Petrov came out earlier this weekend and claimed that the Dons are not a threat to his former side. Clarkson insisted that nobody within Jimmy Thelin’s squad is even discussing possible title bids or even listening to any of the outside noise from those of a Celtic persuasion or elsewhere for that matter.
The midfielder said: “You could see it as a compliment, it’s one of them. But at the same time we don’t think about any of that or listen, to be honest. We have to go to St Mirren and beat them because if we lose three on the bounce, those conversations wouldn’t be happening any more. So for us it’s a case of trying to stay consistent, pick up as many points as we can and further down the line we’ll see where we are.”
Aberdeen have still to taste defeat in the league under Thelin although their unbeaten Premiership run goes back to the end of March last season. The former Liverpool youngster admitted Aberdeen is now a team who go into every game believing. He insisted: “Does it feel like we’ve been unbeaten for as long as we have? No, it doesn’t really.
“After that last loss (at Dundee) there were a lot of harsh words spoken, we took it on board and the reality of it all kicked in. After that we kicked on, started showing what we are as footballers and have taken it on this season too. It’s mental thinking back to that.
“This last six or seven months everyone is loving it. The confidence is high. In the past couple of seasons we’d have been going to St Mirren thinking ‘this is going to be a sticky game’ and it still is.
“But we’re going into it knowing the way we want to play, knowing the squad we’ve got. We feel we’re going down there in full force.”
Clarkson will be up against a familiar face in Killian Phillips. The Irishman had a loan spell at Pittodrie last season but has now signed for St Mirren. His former teammate insisted: “Killian is a great lad who everyone liked when he was here.
“He’s a great player too, he’s got size and energy so it’s going to be a great battle. We still keep in touch a little bit, I spoke to him a couple of months ago and before that when he signed for St Mirren.
“He came here on loan in January, which is always tough and played quite a few games. We all thought he did really well for us in what was a difficult time for the team. It will be nice to see him – but hopefully after the game when we’ve won!”
Aberdeen also welcome back Dante Polvara for the first time under Thelin. The American midfielder is now over the hamstring tear he suffered in pre-season.
He has made the trip to Paisley with the Dons squad, although Angus MacDonald and Pape Habib Gueye miss out through injury. Thelin said: “I can’t remember exactly how many weeks he was in training before he got injured.
“So, I didn’t see him so much, but he started well in the training camp and also, his last part of last season, he did really well. So, it’s good to have this quality.
“He also has different characteristics than the other players. So, I think he’s a good weapon for us to use in different positions on the pitch when we can.”
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