Neil Warnock slams Aberdeen's defensive woes and insists 'not everyone’s Beckenbauer'

Interim Aberdeen boss Neil Warnock has urged his players to improve their decision-making in defensive areas if the Dons are still to have aspirations of finishing in the top six.

Since he stepped into the role in the wake of previous manager Barry Robson's dismissal, the Reds have conceded seven goals in the last four games, keeping a single clean sheet against League Two side Bonnyrigg Rose in the Scottish Cup. Problems at the back have plagued Aberdeen all season, and their 41 goals shipped in 25 matches is the joint-third worst defence in the top-flight.

Veteran gaffer Warnock insists the issues do not lie collectively but with individual players making the wrong choices both on and off the ball. Speaking to the media ahead of tomorrow's trip to face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, he said: "They haven't played badly, but what's the point in playing well if you make a mistake that has cost you a goal? You have got to make sure that you make the right decision at the right time.

"I've said it to centre halves all my career, if in doubt kick it out. Everybody thinks they have got to be (Franz) Beckenbauer nowadays and be silky on the ball. Just put it into touch as they aren't going to score from the stand. It's not rocket science."

Aberdeen trail fourth-placed Killie by 10 points with 13 games remaining, and Saturday's encounter has been billed in some quarters as "win or bust" for their European qualification hopes. But Warnock was keen to play down that narrative and focus on delivering some strong performances.

"You'll be saying that again next week even if we were to get a result", he replied. "We should be in a far better position, but we are not so we need to try and up our game in the last 13 games of the season.

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