Aberdeen Boss Hopes To Go Distance Against Celtic

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes claims he still will not know if his team are capable of beating Celtic to the Premiership title even if they beat the Hoops on Saturday.

The Dons pushed Ronny Deila's team close last season before faltering in the closing weeks, eventually finishing 17 points adrift of the champions.

But for a spell, the only results keeping them from taking the title were the four defeats in their head-to-head clashes with the Parkhead outfit.

The teams now face off for the first time this term when Aberdeen play hosts but McInnes - named the manager of the month for August - says even a victory in the Granite City would not yet convince him his side have the ability to go the distance.

He said: "We want to improve and yes be a bigger threat to Celtic. But we still got it all to prove. It's okay me saying I think we've got the strongest squad that I've had but while I take confidence from that, we've still got it all to do.

"The time to really look at that will be six games to go from the end of the season - not six games in."

McInnes claimed his award after masterminding the Reds' 100 per cent start to the campaign.

They have racked up victories over Dundee United, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Dundee and Partick and could now set a new club record start to a league campaign if they beat Celtic this weekend to make it six straight wins.

Responding to news of his prize, McInnes said: "It's not something you look for but it's better to have them than not. It's just a reflection of the staff and the players we've got here.

"Any award that shows the club in a good light is welcome.

"It was quite a surprising stat that it only took five wins to equal our record for our best ever start to a league season. But it's the three points that are most important at the end of the day.

"Now we can go and beat the record but there is enough to focus this Saturday regardless of the fact we can break it.

"You are always more confident of talking about these things once you've broken them rather than talking prior to that."