Derek McInnes says second place is not Aberdeen's target

Derek McInnes insists finishing second in the Scottish Premiership is not the driving force for Aberdeen this season - despite the chance to leapfrog bitter rivals Rangers in the table.

Aberdeen moved up to third after winning 2-1 at Hibernian at the weekend, inflicting the first defeat on the club since Neil Lennon's departure as head coach.

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If the Dons beat Rangers at Pittodrie on Wednesday live on Sky Sports Football, they will move into second place, and with Celtic currently six points ahead of Steven Gerrard's side, neither team can afford to lose ground.

But Aberdeen's position in the table is not McInnes' focus.

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"Second has never been the target," said McInnes. "We've been second over the last wee while, but our target is just to try and be as competitive as we can for as long as we can.

"It's not about trying to go above Rangers, it's not about trying to get second spot. Our priority is always to try and secure European football as quickly as possible, and go from there.

"Hopefully when we come to the business end of the season after 30 or 32 games in that last bit of the run-in, we can look to see where we are and hopefully still be in and around the teams where we are just now."

Aberdeen have not lost to Rangers in any of their three meetings this season and McInnes believes it is a sign of the club's progress.

"Hopefully we put on a performance that gives us a chance against a good Rangers side who are up there for a reason," he said.

"They are a very talented squad and they've spent a lot of money this season putting that squad together and I think the signs are there that they are really improving.

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"So I think for us, it pleases me that despite those huge advantages in terms of resources that we are still in and around them.

"I think in terms of both sets of supporters, they thrive on the rivalry. It's always a big game, eagerly anticipated and the fact that both teams are in and around each other just adds to that.

"For us it's just about playing the game not the occasion, the occasion is for everybody else.

"The supporters, the noise and the rivalry and that stuff, it's important we have that."

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