Leighton Clarkson knows the current Aberdeen revival was sparked when they hit rock-bottom on their last visit to Dundee.
The Dons crashed 1-0 at Dens Park back in March after Neil Warnock had walked out and the club were flirting dangerously with relegation. Peter Leven was put back in charge and the angry Red Army turned on their own team and there were even chants of “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” as the dejected players trooped off.
That was where Leven hit the reset button and the Dons went on an unbeaten run for the rest of the season, where the only defeat came via a penalty shootout in the Scottish Cup semi-final to Celtic. The Dons have taken that form into the new season and are 11 games unbeaten under Jimmy Thelin and it is now more than six months since they last lost a league game. They are looking to extend that impressive run at Dundee.
Clarkson admitted: “We were on a terrible run and that was the realisation after that game that we were in a relegation battle at that time. There were some harsh words said after that game. Pete had a week on the training ground after that game and to work on how he wanted us to play. From them, we all bought into it and we managed to get results.”
He admitted that Leven got them back to playing in a style that suited their squad. Clarkson added: “It was a hard job he had. Everybody in the team loves him, his character and the way he coaches. We love the way he wants to play football and that certainly helped us in those last few games.
“He took the shackles off a lot of players. Instead of being a little nervous and going out and doing stuff you would do, he made sure we did what we needed to do and how we wanted to play football. That benefited us all. That is what happens after three or four games when you get that winning momentum and you don’t have to fear anyone in this league.”
Clarkson knows Leven has helped lay the foundations from which Jimmy Thelin’s 100% Aberdeen side have kicked on from. It is no surprise to the Aberdeen playmaker that St Johnstone have made the Dons’ first-team coach one of their top managerial targets.
Clarkson watched him transform Aberdeen’s fortunes. He said: “You could say that (he had helped lay the foundations). He has helped the manager and the fact he has remained in the coaching staff is a big plus for us all.”
Aberdeen failed to win Dundee in all three games last season and that is something the midfielder is keen to rectify. He acknowledged: “I don’t think we beat them last season. They are a good team, the way they set-up. They have some good players who we need to be wary of.
“At the same time we are going there full of confidence. Hopefully, if we play our game then we can get a good result.”
Clarkson will come up against an old familiar face tomorrow. Dundee have Billy Koumetio, who he played alongside at Liverpool. The Aberdeen star also urged him to make the summer move to Dens Park.
The playmaker explained: “Billy is a lad I know really well. I have played with him since I was 16 at Liverpool.
“He is a good centre half. I know the qualities he can bring. When he was coming up here, I mentioned he was going to be playing football and the Scottish game is a good move for English talent.”
Duk returns to the squad and Thelin has one or two minor knocks that he will monitor ahead of the trip south.