Jamie McGrath is hellbent on puncturing PAOK’s perfect record and give Aberdeen the springboard to get their Conference League group ambitions up and running.
The Dons have taken one point from their opening two games but a home win against the Greek side tomorrow evening would give them a huge shot in the arm. PAOK are the shock leaders after Europa wins over HJK and Eintracht Frankfurt but McGrath is sure that run can be ended at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen lost narrowly despite a gutsy performance away in Germany and then were held at home by the Finns last time out Midfielder McGrath said: “We know where we are in the group after a good performance in Frankfurt even though we got nothing from that. Ideally we would have liked to win the home game against HJK but it didn’t turn out that way against a good side. There are no easy games in the group as it’s European football and each team has its own strengths and weaknesses.
“It would be massive if we could get three points against PAOK. That would put us right back in the mix heading into the return in Greece. There are a lot of big nights to look forward to and it would be nice to go forward with more points on the board.”
The 27-year-old also knows Aberdeen can look at Hearts and avoid the pitfalls when PAOK knocked Stevie Naismith’s side out in the qualifiers. McGrath said: “PAOK obviously they beat Hearts in qualifying and we can learn from that. I was in the Ireland squad when we played Greece in the summer so I know how manic the fans can be there.”
McGrath also knows if Aberdeen don’t take something then it is likely to all but kill off their hopes of advancing at the halfway stage, with two games away – to PAOK and HJK – and the home clash with Eintracht Frankfurt to
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Jamie Macgrath