ABERDEEN manager Jimmy Calderwood has urged his players not to allow another opportunity to leapfrog Hearts pass them by.
The Dons travel to Kilmarnock this evening in a rearranged game after the SPL fixture was initially postponed on 6 December because of a frozen pitch. A win over Jim Jefferies' side would move the Dons into fourth place, one point ahead of Hearts.
Calderwood's side are still smarting from failing to capitalise on Hearts dropping two points in the Edinburgh derby in their last SPL outing when they lost 2-0 to Hamilton. The Aberdeen manager cannot afford to pass up another chance to overtake Csaba Laszlo's team.
"We know if we win the game we will go up to fourth position which is a great incentive for the players," said Calderwood.
"We didn't manage to take the opportunity last time against Hamilton so hopefully we will manage to do it this time.
"A win against Kilmarnock would also bring us to within two points of Dundee United which would set us up nicely for our next two games against Celtic and Rangers at Pittodrie." However, the Dons manager admits his side will have to play far better than they did against Alloa Athletic on Saturday in the fourth round of the Homecoming Scottish Cup if they are going to leave Rugby Park with all three points.
Sone Aluko eventually grabbed the winner for Calderwood's men but not before Alloa's Andy Scott had given the Second Division side a glimmer of hope when his penalty cancelled out Lee Miller's opener. "We started well against Alloa but for some strange reason we took our foot off the pedal," said the Dons manager. "We missed a few chances to kill the game off and our passing became sloppy which gave Alloa a lift."
The Aberdeen manager was relieved that none of his squad picked up any injuries on the artificial surface at Recreation Park that had been a matter of concern for Calderwood in the run-up to the game.
Calderwood admits he is looking forward to getting back to a more natural playing surface when his side take on Jefferies' side tonight. He added: "It is a wonderful playing surface at Rugby Park. The two sides know each other very well and Kilmarnock are in a bit of form so we know how difficult it is going to be but hopefully we can pick up all three points to move into fourth position."
Calderwood has no fresh injury concerns. Substitute goalkeeper Bertrand Bossu, midfielder Stuart Duff and striker Tommy Wright have recovered from long-term injuries and are all pushing for a place in the squad.
But right-back Jared Hodgkiss will be missing after returning to West Brom following his loan spell. Hodgkiss only made eight appearances for the Dons and has been kept out of the team by Lee Mair and Richard Foster.
The full article contains 493 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
