McInnes: ‘full focus is on Dundee v Kilmarnock’

Derek McInnes insists that Saturday’s game is nothing more than another tough Premiership clash as he prepares to occupy an opposing dugout to Tony Docherty, following a 14-year partnership with his former Assistant manager.

Previewing the trip to Dens Road, McInnes said: “Football throws these things up: you go back to clubs and see people you’ve worked with before. Doc was a brilliant member of staff for me, I need to say that. When I asked to get him as my assistant at St Johnstone he was taking the youths and reserves at Dundee United, and I fought hard to get him.

“We worked really well together for such a long period of time. I think I probably know him better than anybody. As members of staff, we go through everything together.

“I don’t know if it will be strange, but certainly not the norm. It’s about Kilmarnock v Dundee and not really about anything else. I expect a tough game as I know they’ll be well organised. There won’t be many surprises from him or me. We’re away from home and we’ve got to show a level of performance to win the game.”

You can listen to the manager discuss the importance of resilience and the task of getting his strikers fully firing – HERE.