Aberdeen could have suffered two bruising final gasp defeats to the Outdated Agency within the area of 4 days main as much as Christmas.
However Jack MacKenzie insists that may’t be used as an excuse for being BULLIED by Kilmarnock as their depressing Christmas ended with a fourth straight defeat. MacKenzie has been along with his native membership because the age of 9 and is hurting on the woeful run of kind that’s seen the Dons relinquish their grip on third place and pile stress on Jim Goodwin.
The supervisor slammed Wednesday’s capitulation in Kilmarnock as “abysmal”, accusing his gamers of failing to face up and be counted. MacKenzie agrees they had been weak. And as their marketing campaign returns dwelling to the Granite Metropolis towards all-time low Ross County this afternoon, the defender accepts the gamers want to point out some correct grit.
The 22-year-old refuted recommendations the exertions towards Celtic and Rangers are taking a toll.
He mentioned: “No, we're a younger crew and are match boys. The run of video games now we have had can’t be an excuse in any respect. Our mentality wasn’t proper towards Kilmarnock. We didn’t look mentally robust in any respect. We had been weak, we had been bullied.
“Clearly 4 defeats on the spin just about mirrors that.
“We have to do loads higher than we did on Wednesday night time. Kilmarnock had been unlucky to not rating greater than the 2 that they did.
“We have to be higher than people. I don’t suppose any of us obtained go marks.
“We had been all miles off it.
“We have to do higher as a result of if we play like that towards Ross County they'll do us over. We want an enormous enchancment and hopefully a shift of mentality as effectively.”
“We had been lucky to remain third after shedding three video games on the spin. I’m not shocked now we have dropped down the desk after shedding 4.
“We'll want a response. We all know what we have to do. The final 4 outcomes haven’t been ok and we're going to begin sliding down the desk if we don’t flip issues round.”
One constructive for Aberdeen in Ayrshire on Wednesday was the efficiency of 18-year-old winger Ryan Duncan who was introduced in for his first begin albeit in an unfamiliar central midfield position.
MacKenzie admits he felt for the teenager making his debut on an evening when each crew mate was off it.
However he insists Goodwin’s message to the gamers stays constructive.
He mentioned: “It wasn’t a pure place for Ryan enjoying in central midfield. I believed he was in all probability the most effective of a nasty bunch. He obtained on the ball, obtained on the half-turn, tried to be constructive.
“I felt for him. It was his first begin and for the remainder of us to carry out like we did is simply not acceptable.
“The supervisor has simply tried to maintain it constructive. Within the Rangers recreation I believed we performed fairly effectively regardless of the outcome. So it has simply been about maintaining that going.
“Wednesday night time was simply miles off it. I feel we as gamers have to step up and try to show one thing on Monday.”
Aberdeen had stormed into third spot earlier than the World Cup break on the again of a rock stable dwelling report that introduced six wins from seven video games.
However MacKenzie is absolutely conscious of the risk posed by Malky Mackay’s relegation combating Staggies at Pittodrie this afternoon.
He mentioned: “I'm not certain what the important thing to the house kind is as a result of we put together and arrange the identical means dwelling and away. I don’t know if it might be that now we have all of the assist from the followers.
“We now have had a good report at dwelling this season. However there isn't a purpose for us to carry out like we did at Rugby Park on Wednesday night time.
“That efficiency might simply occur on Monday if our mentality isn’t proper. That must be our focus. We have to focus on placing in our strongest show and getting the three factors.”