Gavin Molloy insists Aberdeen believe they can take anyone… and that will be the case again when Rangers travel to Pittodrie.
Jimmy Thelin’s Dons made it 15 games unbeaten with their victory over Dundee United as sub Peter Ambrose popped up in the 84th minute. Aberdeen have won 14 of those matches, their only dropped points coming in the come-from-behind 2-2 draw at Celtic Park. Thelin’s boys will be pushed to the maximum this week when Rangers visit in two days’ time before Celtic beckon in their Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden come Saturday.
Rangers are up first and defender Molloy said: “Recent history means there’s been a bit of a bite to it but we are just going to go into it and try to beat them like any other team. Why can’t we put it up to anyone on our day? And if we believe in ourselves like we have been, we can get a result against anyone. There are a lot of big games coming up in the next couple of months so we are just going to look at each individual one.”
Aberdeen have won every one of their nine games at Pittodrie and Molloy reckons they’re creating a fear factor. “I think there is,” added the Irishman. “People are seeing we are winning week in, week out, so why wouldn’t we build a fortress here?
“We make it very hard for any team to come here and get results. We really felt that on Saturday, especially when we scored and when we got the penalty – even though it was disallowed. We’re really building something here.”
Aberdeen only trail Brendan Rodgers’ Bhoys on goal difference but aren’t even a quarter of the way through the fixtures while still to hit top gear. Molloy knows it is far too early to make rash predictions.
And the former Shelbourne defender said: “I don’t look at it after nine games. There’s still a long way to go so there’s no reason to be caught up in the league title.”
The 23-year-old believes Aberdeen returned from Glasgow with plenty of belief, having come back from 2-0 down to take a point against Celtic. He said: “The result helps but it’s the principals in the squad and what we’re building in training that matters.
“We’re full of belief right now and see ourselves as one of the big teams. It’s about hard work and the belief you can beat anyone.
“There’s no reason to show up to a game and not think you’re going to win.” There is no doubt Aberdeen are riding the crest of a wave, finding a way to win even when not in top gear.
This was another prime example as the Dons dominated against United but created little in the first period. That was down to a well-drilled Terrors team who were resolute and defended well. Aberdeen looked a lot more threatening when Shayden Morris replaced Topi Keskinen at the interval. Ester Sokler was denied with a header by a great save from Jack Walton, who also kept out Jamie McGrath. It began to look as if Aberdeen weren’t going to score until Molloy stepped forward.
He curled in a cross, Nicky Devlin challenged and the ball came off a United defender into the path of Ambrose to sweep in. Molloy said: “We’re finding ways to win. As you could see, we weren’t at our best against Dundee United. We still kept moving the ball, trying to get a bit of space and I always felt we would score. There wasn’t any point where we were settling for a draw. I said to myself, ‘We’re going to find a way’.
“That’s what we’ve been doing all season and luckily we did. We’re a confident bunch but then why wouldn’t you be when you’re on a run like we are?
“There’s no doubt the comeback against Celtic last week was massive for the belief in the squad. We know on our day we can beat anyone but we proved what we can do last week. That result and the way we got it was huge for everyone’s confidence.”
Thelin refuses to take credit but there is no doubt he and his staff know when to make changes. They did it to come back against Celtic and counterpart Jim Goodwin acknowledged his switches proved the difference against United. Aberdeen were the better team but the Terrors would have felt aggrieved losing the goal so late as Will Ferry fired over what could have been a leveller.
Molloy said: “Every manager is different in the way he gets his points across, not just in any big ways. It’s in every little detail – any meeting, every gym session, every training session, so that’s how it’s built. I’m loving it.”