Graeme Shinnie bins Celtic excuses as Aberdeen fall into trap during Parkhead scudding

Fatigue, travel sickness, five away games in a row .. Graeme Shinnie knows there are excuses readily available for Aberdeen’s latest Parkhead pummelling.

But the Dons skipper says not one of them will wash after what he openly admits was a Sunday serving of reality for Barry Robson’s players.

Scudded by six - and it could have been more - the positive vibes from wins away to Motherwell and Hibs at Hampden as well as an impressive European draw against PAOK in Greece were suddenly blown apart by the ruthless champions.

Shinnie has been at the heart of an Aberdeen midfield that’s now taken three heavy beatings in their last three visits to Celtic Park.

It was 4-0 in February, 5-0 on trophy day in May and now 6-0. Some might have turned to the scheduling of fixtures and weariness for reasons behind this latest collapse. But Shinnie was in no mood for covering up what was a brutal afternoon - not when that schedule of European and domestic fixtures is exactly what Aberdeen want.

Resurgent Rangers are up next at Pittodrie after the international break and the 32-year-old midfielder knows the Dons can’t afford another off day. Asked if Thursday’s exertions in Thessaloniki were to blame Shinnie, who was subbed on 81 minutes at 3-0, said: “It’s no excuse. We’re not going to get away from the fact it has been a gruelling schedule. I think five away games in a row, there’s no getting away from that - but it’s no excuse for that performance.

“If anything, you can maybe tire towards the end but we looked tired from the start. You can’t blame that on fatigue. It’s just not been good enough and overall, like the manager said, not acceptable as a team.

“Mental fatigue? Potentially, but we ain’t going to use them as excuses. This is