Jocky Scott: You'll never have a better chance of lifting the title

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Jocky Scott believes? Aberdeen have the perfect opportunity to go one better than the Dons side he helped lead to the brink of becoming champions of Scotland.

 

The 67-year-old was co-manager with Alex Smith in 1991 when Rangers pipped Aberdeen to the title by winning a final-day showdown at Ibrox.

 

And bullish Scott believes Derek McInnes’s side have what it takes to upset current table-toppers Celtic at Parkhead on Sunday.

 

He said: “Aberdeen are playing very well and getting results so they certainly have nothing to fear.

 

“I don’t think Celtic will be affected having had two games before they face Aberdeen. Players enjoy being involved in these games. The Celtic players will enjoy facing Inter Milan and they’ll look forward to coming up against Aberdeen

 

“There will be a big crowd at Parkhead on Sunday so they won’t want to let the home fans down. But Aberdeen have nothing to be apprehensive about.”

 

Scott, who helped Smith lead the Dons to a cup double in 1989-90, reckons his former team should take heart from seeing other sides run Celtic close this term.

 

He said: “Although Celtic have been getting results week in week out, I always think watching them that the opposition have a chance.

 

“All right, they beat Hamilton 4-0 on Sunday, but they don’t normally win by the big scorelines the way they used to. And I always think teams have a chance against them.

 

“The Dons are confident in the way they play and that they’ll get results and realistically they are the only team left to mount a challenge to Celtic. I’ve been saying for months Aberdeen and Dundee United have never have a better chance of winning the title than they have this season. But now it’s down to the Dons.

 

“Derek McInnes has got good performances and good results from his team and everybody at Pittodrie is obviously doing the right thing.”

 

Scott still has painful?memories of failing to clinch the title that day in 1991 when Aberdeen needed only a draw to become champions.

 

He said: “I remember lots from that game. We started well and had a very good chance through Hans Gillhaus then another five minutes later through Peter van de Ven. Had we scored with one of those chances we wouldn’t have lost the game.”

 

Rangers eventually ran out 2-0 winners but Scott doesn’t believe this season’s Dons will show similar nerves on Sunday.

 

He said: “Watching Celtic recently I’ve felt that while they’ve won, the opposition have had opportunities.

 

“In the win over St Johnstone in Perth on Valentine’s Day, the home side had a great chance in the last minute to get a draw. Celtic have been allowing teams to get that close.

 

“If Aberdeen don’t lose the game it would put real pressure on Celtic and keep the Dons momentum going – more so of course if they win at Parkhead.”