Joe Lewis fires Rangers warning as Aberdeen skipper insists Jim Goodwin 'isn't asking for miracles'

Joe Lewis admits the table doesn’t lie and that it’s time for Aberdeen to face up to some harsh home truths.

The club captain knows languishing in 10th simply is not good enough for the Dons and they need to snap out of their slump sharpish.

The Pittodrie club haven’t won since Boxing Day and Wednesday night’s miserable defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle only served to show how big a job new boss Jim Goodwin has on his hands to get the club back in the fight to be Scotland’s third force.

Lewis admits finishing fourth doesn’t even look likely right now unless the squad are prepared to roll up their sleeves and scrape their way out of the doom.

Ibrox on Saturday would be a good place to start and the keeper is hoping another run at their fierce rivals could reignite the Dons’ campaign.

It’s a tight table but even so, Lewis knows third bottom of the pile is chronic.

He said: “It’s absolutely not where Aberdeen should be. Going higher up in the table is there for a team who want to grab it.

“But right now, we are not really looking like a team who are going to do that.

“We have to show resilience and fight. The manager is not asking for miracles from anyone.

“He’s asking for hard work, athleticism and to put ourselves about. There wasn’t enough of that.

“It needs to be a spark. We have had decent performances against Rangers this season.

“We need to replicate those and show a lot more than we did against Hearts. The games will run out soon but the league is condensed and there is an opportunity for someone to grab it and go on a run.

“We need to show the willingness to go on a run.”

Aberdeen look bereft of confidence and 34-year-old Lewis said: “Possibly, it’s hard to gauge that.

“We certainly need to show more energy and