Liam Scales targets Rangers as ultimate chance to prove Aberdeen progression and additional springboard into Europe

Liam Scales insists Aberdeen’s confidence is sky-high and they will prove it by finally taking points off Rangers.

The Dons are one of the form teams in the country after Friday’s victory at Ross County made it six wins on the bounce. Under Barry Robson they now look a far different proposition to the side that struggled under Jim Goodwin and have gone from bottom six to clear in third place.

The Pittodrie side, however, will face one of their toughest challenges next Sunday when Michael Beale’s Rangers head to the Granite City. The Reds took the Light Blues to extra-time in the League Cup semi-finals before losing and were winning 2-1 before a late stoppage-time collapse cost them the points at home in the last league clash.

Defender Scales said: “I think we can get a result this time. When we played them in the semi-final we were very close and at Pittodrie in the last league game it was tight. We were 2-1 up with two minutes to go and lost.

“We have shown we can do well against them. They are obviously a top side and are clear in second. It is a big ask but the run we are on gives us confidence that we can get points off them.”

Aberdeen went into the World Cup break in third but a horror run saw them plunge down the table, costing Goodwin his job.

At that point, their hopes of being the best of the rest looked to be out of reach – before Robson came in and got them back on the up. On-loan Celtic stopper Scales said: “I think we always had it in us. It is hard when you are down and you are losing games. To turn it around like we have, we just needed a kick to get us going.

“The confidence is just sky-high and that is the difference at the moment. We started so well then had a big drop off after the World Cup break.