Jimmy Thelin: Aberdeen must maintain focus to bring slump to an end

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin insists his side have to remain focused on the process they are undertaking despite their winless streak extending to nine games, with four consecutive defeats.

The Dons put on a better show against Ross County at a snowy Pittodrie, but the Dons fell behind to Akil Wright’s wonderful strike, before sub Kevin Nisbet equalised deep in first-half stoppage time.

The Dons looked to press for a winner, but a superb solo strike from Noah Chilvers saw the visitors take home all three points.

Thelin said “There’s no way around it. From the beginning it was clear what we have to do to have the team the way we want to look and we are still in that process. We’re trying to execute the parts, but we have a journey to do.

“I try to avoid talking about confidence because you can’t hide behind that. You have to keep working, pushing the performance and taking accountability.

“It’s always a challenge not to lose track of what you want to be. We know that the fans today at home want more from us – we all understand that. We have to do better because still the fans are pushing us. Right now over 90 minutes we don’t deserve it, and that’s what we need to do.”

Ross County assistant Carl Tremarco is pleased that his side has learned the lessons of recent defeats after making it two wins in a row on the road.

County had gone 15 months without an away win, but won at Dundee in the previous away game before this victory, and Tremarco said “We were speaking about it in the changing room, it’s one of those things – like buses.

“I thought we were good for it, especially in the first half. It was a bit of a kick in the teeth to come in at 1-1 at half-time. We rode our luck in the second half, but I thought that first-half performance warranted it.

“Our goalkeeper [Jordan Amissah] has pulled off some good saves in the second half for us as well.

“The manager spoke at half-time about the Hibs game, having had a good solid first-half performance then a slack moment letting the opposition in bang on half time. We asked the boys to learn from it, and it’s safe to say they did that.

“We reflected on that game and had it gone the other way today it would have been a bit concerning, but the boys showed excellent character and I thought we stood up well.”