Chris Cadden has urged Aberdeen to turn their home ground into a fortress, starting with Sunday's Premiership match against St Johnstone. The full-back met with the media on Thursday to preview the fixture, which sees the seventh-placed Dons host sixth-placed Saints at Pittodrie.
Cadden stated the team's clear objective is to dominate at home. "As I said before, you want to win your home games," Cadden said. "You want to make Pittodrie a hard place to come." He emphasised that the squad knows its own capabilities and is focused solely on delivering a performance against St Johnstone to kickstart their league campaign.
Break used to build momentum
Cadden revealed the extended international break was put to productive use by Stephen Robinson's squad. He said the standard in training over the last two weeks was brilliant and it was not a time for relaxation. Players returning from injury also boosted the group's options, building on the momentum from a positive week of results before the pause. The team enters this match on a five-game unbeaten run, with their last outing a 4-1 win at Dunfermline.
Fans and fortress mentality
The 29-year-old highlighted the unwavering support of the Aberdeen fanbase as a key advantage. He described the away following as unbelievable since his arrival and stated that turning Pittodrie into a genuine stronghold is directly linked to having a successful season. Cadden acknowledged there has been significant change at the club but believes winning games is the straightforward path to progress.
With eight points from seven games, Aberdeen sit just one place and one point behind their weekend opponents. A victory would provide a tangible boost in the tightly-contested middle of the table. Cadden stressed that every game at a club of Aberdeen's stature feels significant, which he sees as a motivating factor for the players. The team's recent form shows two wins and three draws from their last five matches across all competitions.
Aberdeen's last home match was the frustrating goalless draw with Kilmarnock that prompted a negative reaction from sections of the support. Cadden's message is clear: the team must respond by making Pittodrie an intimidating venue for visiting sides. The squad list, including returning players, is available on our squad page. Aberdeen host St Johnstone at Pittodrie on Sunday, 11 October.
This story first appeared at aberdeenlive.news
