Aberdeen striker Kevin Nisbet has called on the players to stand up and be counted after admitting the club are slap-bang in relegation trouble.
The Dons fell to a 4-1 defeat against Rangers at Ibrox last night, just a few hours after relegation rivals Kilmarnock and St Mirren had both picked up priceless victories to cut the gap.
Having been eight points clear of trouble when Stephen Robinson took charge just over a week ago, Aberdeen are now only three points above the danger zone heading into the international break.
Nisbet, who captained the team against Rangers, admitted that the performance was nowhere near good enough.
Insisting that it is now a test of character as much as anything else, he insisted the players have seven games to save their season.
‘I think we accepted that [being in a relegation fight] weeks ago, to be honest,’ he said. ‘We knew the performances weren’t good enough.
Striker Kevin Nisbet says it is time for the Aberdeen players to show what they are made of
Winger Mikey Moore scores Rangers’ second goal in their 4-1 victory over Aberdeen at Ibrox
Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson delivered a few home truths to his players after the game
‘But I think now it’s a realisation for the squad. It’s just up to us, we now have to dust ourselves down and come back and get to work.
‘This is on us. It’s not on individuals. It’s on us as a collective. I think everyone in the dressing room is responsible for how the season has been.
‘For us, it’s just about keeping together as a team. Staying together, sticking together and trying to win as many games as possible.
‘The manager said a few home truths after the game. I think as players, we can’t take it personally. We need to react in the right way. React in a positive way, rather than moping about.
‘I think we’re all men. If we take a bollocking, then that’s fine. I think we’ll probably see what kind of character the team is now.
‘I obviously back the team, I think we’ve got a lot of good players. We just need to stick together and get to the end of the season and get as many points as possible.’
Nisbet admitted that the Aberdeen players were aware of the fact that both Kilmarnock and St Mirren had won their games prior to kick-off at Ibrox.
Aberdeen’s next match will come away against the Saints in Paisley after the international break, with Robinson going up against his former club in a relegation six-pointer.
‘Yeah, we were aware of the results, but it’s just up to us,’ he said. ‘I think we’re obviously ahead of those sides in the table, so if we go and win more games and get more points, then we stay up.
‘I think we’ve got a massive game against St Mirren away next. But right now, it’s just in our hands. If we go win our games, then it’s there for us. That’s just where we are.
‘We started well against Rangers and had a good shape. But to end up losing the game 4-1 is not acceptable. We know we are in a dogfight now.’
