We must ‘stop shooting ourselves in the foot’, says Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin

Jim Goodwin urged his Aberdeen players to stop making life difficult for themselves as they prepare to host cinch Premiership bottom side Dundee on Saturday.

The Dons missed out on a top-half finish and in the wake of their 2-1 home defeat to Livingston last weekend are in ninth place on 36 points, ahead of St Mirren on goal difference and 10 points clear of the Dark Blues

Goodwin’s side are without a win in their last three games, including a 2-2 draw against Dundee at Dens Park, and the Irishman wants to get back to winning ways in the four remaining fixtures.

He said: “Saturday is an extremely challenging game. Dundee are still fighting for their lives.

“I think they proved that last weekend against St Johnstone with a very good competitive performance (in a 1-1 draw).

“We have only played them a few weeks ago at Dens Park so we know exactly what to expect, but I believe in this crop of players, I believe that we’ve got enough within the squad to go and win the game on Saturday.

“But we have to do ourselves a favour and stop shooting ourselves in the foot with penalties and different bits and pieces.

“But it’s going to be a good game. It should be a good spectacle.”

Goodwin is pleased experienced referee Willie Collum will be in charge at Pittodrie as he remains irked by last week’s defeat at Pittodrie where he believes Livingston goalkeeper Max Stryjek escaped a red card for his clash with Vicente Besuijen just moments before Nicky Devlin put the visitors into the lead.

Referee Grant Irvine booked both Stryjek and Besuijen and Goodwin was not impressed.

The former St Mirren manager, who took over at Pittodrie in February, said: “I don’t like talking about luck because I’m a great believer that you got to make your