Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie is acutely aware of the growing plaudits the club have received this season and the critical question of whether they can maintain their momentum by featuring in the Scottish Premiership title race.

Following a disappointing setback in Paisley on Saturday, where they suffered their first league defeat of the season against St Mirren, the Dons are eager to bounce back.

As they prepare to face Hibernian tonight, Shinnie emphasises the importance of focusing on their immediate performance rather than the external noise about whether they can keep up with a Celtic side that's dominated Scottish football over the past decade.

Manager Jimmy Thelin has also expressed confidence in his squad's ability to return to winning ways and continue the promising momentum that he's created since taking the role in the summer.

Shinnie recognises that while Aberdeen has made a commendable start to the 2024/25 campaign, the nature of the sport means that fortunes can shift rapidly. That's why it's crucial for the Dons to leave Edinburgh with maximum points this evening to avoid all the positive work unravelling. 

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Speaking to the press ahead of their trip to Easter Road, Shinnie said: "People will talk, it's the way it goes. It's a long season, people talk about title challenges in October and November – which is madness.

"It's so early because within five games it can look very different if you get carried away. I know it's not what people want to hear and it's boring but things can change very quickly if you let yourself get carried away.

"In-house, we are just focused on getting back to winning ways and letting the outside noise be as it is. There'll always be the scrutiny of, 'Can Aberdeen keep it up?'.

"That's not something we can control and is natural in football. It's up to us to carry that pressure, that's what it's like being at this club. Whether it was last season when we were underperforming or this season when we're at the top end of the league. There is always pressure at clubs like this whatever you do.

"It's about handling that and it's also about controlling what we can do and not letting it affect us. We've had a great start to the season, we have to remember that and can't let one defeat derail what we're doing.

"I wouldn't say we're trying to put pressure on Celtic, it's about winning as many games as we can and picking up points. We have opened up a gap below us so we don't want to lose that, we want to build on that.

"I'd never shy away from the fact that winning trophies is something I am desperate to do at Aberdeen.

"It's tough, especially when Celtic have been as dominant as they have been over the years. But there's still life in me yet so I'll continue to fight for as long as I can."

(Image: SNS Group)