Aberdeen Manager Derek McInnes salutes effort behind seven-goal show

Derek McInnes highlighted with pride the appetite and application of his Aberdeen players in the 7-0 demolition of Dundee at Dens Park.

Defender Andrew Considine celebrated the first-hat trick of his career on the eve of his 30th birthday and indeed could have scored four.

In a powerful, pacy and clinical display, Dons striker Adam Rooney, midfielder Kenny McLean, skipper Ryan Jack and attacker Niall McGinn added to the misery of the home side whose performance on Friday night was described by boss Paul Hartley as ''shambolic''.

Celtic are still 22 points of the Granite City men at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership and can clinch the title with a win against Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday.

However, manager McInnes was as pleased as he could be with the way his side set about their task on Tayside.

He said: ''To produce a performance like that at this stage in the season in terms of intensity, work rate and energy says so much about the team and how the players manage their own careers.

Normally you see a lot of tired teams at this stage of the season and it is all about digging out results.

But that was a team that was really confident and hard-working and that gave us the platform.

Once you get Jonny Hayes, Graeme Shinnie, Ryan Jack, Kenny McLean and Niall McGinn really enjoying the game, it is hard to contain them.

I ask them all the time to play the way they train because I see that every day, and last night was one of those nights when we played the way we trained.

People on the ball had options and they trusted each other and it was a fantastic performance and I was really pleased with it.''