Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has urged the Pittodrie boo boys not to panic.
The honeymoon period for the Swede now looks to be over. After a blistering start his second-placed Dons have failed to win in the last five games and they had to settle for another frustrating home point against St Johnstone. Aberdeen had been nine clear of Rangers but now their rivals could jump above them if they win their games-in-hand and the recent home cheers turned to boos after this game.
Thelin said: “So far we have had a good season but it’s a difficult period now. The important thing is how we end. We have to get on the training pitch, work on things and get out of the other side. It’s a good time to not have a game next weekend, we can recover some of the players, get fresh and start again.
“It will be good to get through this period, when things don’t go exactly as you want you have to struggle a bit more. But you can’t panic, we are still in a good spot – we have to use the energy, don’t get stressed and keep working. We are still the same team who has picked up a lot of points so you don’t panic, it’s about where you end up in May.”
Aberdeen have picked up just three points from a possible 15. Thelin plans to use the break to work on his team before they return against Hibs. He doesn’t think they are too far away from their early season selves.
Thelin said: “Our performance today wasn’t the best we’ve had this season. We didn’t have the energy and intensity we wanted.
“Our supporters have been amazing but I can understand the frustration today, that’s normal sometimes when you have high expectations. We have to believe in what we’re doing, stick together and try to push our limits.
“We have to get through this together. The game against Celtic had really good energy but we didn’t find that in this game. We didn’t get a rhythm to the game, it wasn’t so good.”