Aberdeen may not have won in their last 10 matches but Dundee United boss Peter Houston is taking nothing for granted as his team prepare to travel to the Granite City tomorrow.
Regardless of the Dons’ recent bad form, Houston is aware they still possess players capable of hurting the Tannadice side’s European aspirations.
“I have been surprised by Aberdeen’s difficulties this season considering the quality of players they have there,” he said.
“But to be honest, I am more concerned about how we go about our business.
“We are under no illusions about going to Pittodrie as, ever since I have been at Dundee United, they have always given us a tough game.
“I know for a fact that Aberdeen will be smarting at their bad run so we have to be at 100% on a surface which is not at its best, like most grounds in Scotland at the moment.”
Aberdeen’s recent record may persuade punters that United are a sure-fire, away-win banker tomorrow but Houston insists his team do not share that view.
“I have to compliment our players because they are very rarely complacent,” he said.
“If we have a bad game, like we did recently against Hamilton at Tannadice, then we kick on in the next match.
“I really cannot fault them complacency-wise as they know where we want to end up by finishing as high in the league as we can and to get into Europe.
“A lot of the players have not competed in Europe before so that is our target now.
“We have to make sure we take it one game at a time and go to Aberdeen on Saturday to try to secure a decent result.”
Houston will have the option of selecting David Goodwillie for the game as he has recovered from a stomach bug.
However, Paul Dixon and Danny Cadamarteri are still unavailable.