Jimmy Thelin appeals for players to reward fans as Aberdeen struggles continue

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin told players to reflect on what they are giving back to fans after going a 14th William Hill Premiership game without victory.

Thelin and his players stood for a prolonged period clapping and standing in front of the away fans following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Hibernian.

About half of the bottom tier of the stand had emptied before nine minutes of stoppage time were up and most of the remainder drifted out silently and despondently after Aberdeen’s late pressure came to nothing.

Others applauded the players for the efforts while some remonstrated and some appeared to almost plead for answers as to how Aberdeen’s flying start to the season has nosedived into such a slump.

Thelin appeared to change his media approach after the game from talking about following the process to public criticism of his players.

The Swede stressed they needed to compete better, win more duels and do the basics right and he also appealed for his players to reward the fans for their ongoing loyalty.

“Every away game, the fans are there,” he said. “They give everything they can to help us reach a higher standard as a team.

“So we have to look at ourselves in the mirror in terms of what we’re giving back in these games.

“We have to produce a higher standard because we have high ambitions at this club. That will not change. We have to change if we’re going to reach them.

“I’ll talk to the players and try to make them grow, be better. I won’t pick out individual players but they know. We can’t keep doing what we’re doing right now on the pitch.”

Aberdeen are still looking for players but Thelin stressed they should have the answers in the current squad.

“The window closes on Monday and we’re working hard to try and get some energy and quality into the team,” he said.

“But right now recruitment doesn’t matter because we have players here. They signed and took responsibility so we have to find a way out of this. It’s about us – myself, the staff and the players.”

Hibs moved just two points behind the fourth-placed Dons after continuing their upward trajectory but head coach David Gray will not start targeting Europe given the tight nature of the bulk of the Premiership table.

“My focus is always the same,” Gray said. “And because of the nature and the way the season’s gone so far, we’ve always just been chasing the team in front of us.

“And I think when you look at the league now, you know how tight it is, and looking at some of the results even this weekend, everybody can beat everyone. You need to be at your absolute best to win games of football in this league.

“Our full focus right now is to make sure we cement our place in that top six as quickly as we can. And naturally, if we can do that quickly, you’re then obviously putting yourself in a really good position to then keep looking up the way.

“And right now, the challenge is to try and catch Aberdeen, who are two points in front of us