Boss McInnes urges Dons to strengthen hold on second place yet further

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has urged his players to build on their 12-point lead over Rangers ahead of Sunday's meeting between the teams.

The Dons are a good bet to secure a Premiership runners-up spot for a third consecutive season after a 10-game winning run at Pittodrie helped them open up a gap on the Ibrox men.

But McInnes has challenged his players to strengthen their position further.

“We are 12 points clear with a superior goal difference and I think it is important we try and build on that rather than looking over our shoulder,” he said.

“That is what we have done over the past few weeks when people maybe have questioned if there is a bit of pressure applied. The players have responded and have kept winning games, and done it with a bit to spare. If we score one more goal than Rangers then I will be happy.”

Aberdeen have tailed off in the past two seasons after a very early start in Europe, but the reintroduced winter break appears to have kept them fresh this year.

McInnes said: “We are quite consistent this season in where we have been the last couple of years in terms of our points tally.

“We want to try and finish the season off strongly and it is important we try and do that, because sometimes it is how you finish a season that defines you.

“It is important that we try and keep the momentum going. We have a strong run going, especially at home. We have had five clean sheets in a row now and 15 wins out of 17 or 18 games.

“I think we should feel a pride about, but the time for really looking back with real pride and reflection is at the end of the season. Hopefully we can keep the form going and it can take us where we want to go.”