ABERDEEN defender Anthony O’Connor is not overly concerned at losing second spot to Rangers – but he is determined to prove the Dons still mean business over the festive period.
Rangers leapfrogged Aberdeen when the Pittodrie side were preparing for the Betfred Cup final and then consolidated their position with a 2-1 victory over Derek McInnes’s men at Ibrox.
The Dons had a strong grip on second during the previous two seasons while Rangers were languishing in the lower divisions but O’Connor insists they are not losing their way.
“I will definitely have a look at their result but it’s not something I am getting too concerned about at the moment,” the Irishman said ahead today’s game against Ross County in Dingwall.
“We have a game in hand and still have to play them. If we keep playing well and keep picking up points, I think we will be in and around each other come the end of the season.
“It’s not going to be easy of course, they are a good team and have good players, but so do we. It’s not something I am obsessing over at the minute.
“Of course we want to finish as high as we can and if that’s second then so be it, but our focus is on Saturday.”
The Dons also face Motherwell, Hamilton and Hearts before the winter break and O’Connor is keen to put the fear factor into their league rivals.
“Every footballer in the league will always look at results and all the results over the season they have probably been thinking that we are a force, because we have won a lot of games by three or four,” the 24-year-old said. “We will be looking to do that again over the next three or four games.
“I’m not saying we are going to go out and absolutely batter teams three or four nil but we are looking to put down a marker and say we are by no means done here.
“We are still looking to finish as best as we can.”
O’Connor has played in all but one of Aberdeen’s league games since his summer move from Burton and he is pleased with his progress.
“I remember coming in at the start of the season and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy for myself just to walk into the team,” he said.
“But I knew that once I got my chance that if I played to the way I was capable of then there was no way I was coming out the team.
“I like to think I grabbed my chance with both hands and every game now I am feeling better.
“Obviously you are not going to have good games all season, you will have a bad game or two and it’s important to keep them to a minimum.
“But I am really happy with the way I am playing and long may that continue and hopefully I can keep improving.”
The centre-back is also enjoying the style of Scottish football, both the physicality and the opportunity to play from the back.
“I like to have all different styles to my game, whether I have to be aggressive and nasty, if you want to call it that,” he said.
“But I also like to be cool, calm and collected on the ball and get my team playing from the back.
“I like to think of myself as a more cultured defender, as defenders are nowadays. They are expected to be good on the ball and be able to pass the ball, so I like to think I am like that but I have a bit of old school in me as well.
“When I have to tackle and put my head through things, or put my foot through things then I am going to do that as well.
“I play with my heart on my sleeve and I will keep doing that for the team.”
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