Barry Robson admits gruelling Aberdeen gauntlet has hit him with football first as boss serves Pittodrie reminder

Barry Robson believes there is already a special bond within his squad – and that in time his players will have Aberdeen in the hunt for trophies as well as a European return.

His newly-built Dons squad have produced some big results and performances but at times have struggled domestically off the back of a gruelling Europa Conference League group stage campaign. Robson expects a marked improvement in their league form as a draining run of seven away games out of eight comes to an end at Hibs tomorrow.

Robson said: “We will get better and better but we need time to get us to where we want to get to. My God, they are a good group and have played some really good stuff at times. There have been times when we have struggled a wee bit, let’s be honest. We know that.

“But you can’t just build a new team and go into European groups for the first time in 16 years and be brilliant. Sunday will be our seventh game in eight away from home

“I have been in the game 30 years and I have never seen that before. That’s what has helped us create a bond because that’s as difficult a schedule as any club in Europe will have. We’re still in there fighting and that’s what we need to bring at the weekend.”