Derek McInnes has admitted that Aberdeen are battling for second place with Celtic set to claim the Premiership title.
Hearts face Motherwell today trailing the Dons by eight points, both teams have to face Celtic before meeting at Pittodrie in the second last batch of fixtures.
Last night’s 3-0 defeat at St Johnstone was much more convincing than the scoreline reflects with Aberdeen outplayed in every area of the park.
“We need to make sure that we get enough points to guarantee second spot and there’s work to be done to do that,” McInnes said as he reflected on that defeat. “We have to heed the warning and recognise there’s still a job to be done.
“The best team, the most determined team, won the game. St Johnstone played it exactly how it needed to be played — they played smartly and got their reward.
“They got the ball forward quickly and asked questions of us.
“We got dominated at both ends of the pitch and we looked vulnerable. We’ve lost a few games like that this season, based on lack of physicality and strength.
“It’s something I’m well aware of and we know we need more size in the team. Ash Taylor gives us real presence and aggression but every time the ball went in our box there were too many headers won by St Johnstone boys.
“It was a poor night for us. The third goal encapsulated the whole season — we had so many opportunities to clear it.
“It took a 37-year-old in Barry Robson and a 16-year-old in Connor McLennan making his debut to show how we should have played.”
St Johnstone can finish the season in fourth place but look like being denied a European place to a Hearts side that dumped £28m of debt less than two years ago.