DEREK McINNES has laid out his plans as he hopes to celebrate a massive win over Celtic at Parkhead this afternoon.
The Aberdeen boss, who saw his team clinch a Betfred League Cup semi-final spot against Rangers following their 6-5 penalty-kick shoot-out triumph over Hibs on Tuesday, wants to follow up with three points from the champions.
The Dons won 1-0 in the east end of Glasgow for the first time in 14 years in May, but it was the final game of the campaign and Brendan Rodgers’ men had clinched their seventh successive title four games earlier with a 5-0 trouncing of the Ibrox side.
McInnes said: “I think it’s been a good week until now and a brilliant week would be getting the result at Celtic Park.
“I talked last week about the importance of the three games. The first one was three points against Motherwell, getting through the Cup-tie and now trying to deal with Celtic, which is always difficult.
“I’m pleased with getting through the tie and I’m pleased with a lot of what we’re getting from the players. Good resilience, a decent level of performance and we’re still searching for those perfect performances and we’re working towards that. Hopefully by getting one or two back in the next two weeks will help as well.
“With two clean sheets in a row now, I think if we’re going to get a result, our defensive part of the game has to be really strong again.
“We won last time at Celtic Park and we know it can be done, but we’re well aware of the challenge. ”
McInnes added: “A lot has been made of Celtic’s start and it goes with the territory when big clubs don’t win games, but it’s very early in the season for people to be writing people off and, for me, Celtic are still the team to beat.
“They’ve got a manager and the players who have done it time and time again. A lot of the questions have been a bit premature, but, understandably, when they don’t win games the criticism comes.
“They are a top side full of top players and I think our players will relish the challenge.”
