Graeme Shinnie responds to Kris Boyd’s Aberdeen-Celtic rant as skipper insists Dons have what it takes to beat Rangers
A HEAVY defeat right before an international break always stings that little bit more, and Aberdeen suffered that feeling earlier this month.
Barry Robson's side were humiliated in a 6-0 loss away to Celtic prior to the current block of internationals.
Dons captain Graeme Shinnie was substituted off in the 81st minute with the score just 3-0.
His teammates went on to concede three times in just seven minutes in injury time, a collapse labelled as "embarrassing" by Kris Boyd on Sky Sports after the game.
Shinnie feels the pundit had a point, but wasn't exactly breaking new ground.
He told Sky: "I think he's just stating the obvious a little bit.
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"It is disappointing, it is frustrating, it is embarrassing that we've been beaten 6-0, so when you have these defeats you need to take criticism on the chin."
The fixture list hasn't been too forgiving for Robson's ninth-placed team, as they host in-form Rangers at Pittodrie on Sunday.
Boyd sparked controversy by suggesting that the under-fire Dons boss would have an easier time motivating his players to face Philippe Clement's men than he did against Celtic.
Aberdeen being more up for games against Rangers than their Old Firm rivals was an opinion also voiced by Steven Gerrard in his time at Ibrox.
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Shinnie responded: "I think the manager would be able to get us up for any game, especially after [losing 6-0].
"As players, if you don't want to make amends for a defeat like that, then you're in the wrong sport.
"We're all looking forward to the game on Sunday, it wouldn't matter who it was, we'll all be right up for it."
Aberdeen's record against Rangers does give them reason to be optimistic, with their 3-1 victory at Ibrox in September their seventh win against the Gers since their promotion back to the top flight in 2016, compared to just one over Celtic in that time.
With a rematch in the League Cup Final in the diary for December, Shinnie is keen to keep the focus on this week's encounter.
He said: "I don't think [the final] has any impact, they're two different games.
"It's a different atmosphere towards a cup final, and our whole focus is on Sunday and trying to turn our form around.
"Big games are why you're at a club like Aberdeen and the stadium will be packed and noisy, and it comes with an expectation for the team to do well."
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