Max Lowe knows hurting Aberdeen have to pick themselves up and show they are right up for the Europa League fight against Motherwell.
The Dons dropped out of the top three after they were beaten 2-1 by an Uche Ikpeazu-inspired Hearts at the weekend.
Lowe expects another similar battling approach from Motherwell and is well aware that Stephen Robinson’s men will travel north on Wednesday fancying their chances of doing a number on them at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen haven’t won a Premiership game at home this year and Lowe knows that is something that needs to be rectified immediately.
The on-loan Derby County star admitted: “Motherwell have done well at the weekend and we know what we are going to get from them as well – it will be similar to Hearts.
“We’ve got to put this game to bed before the Motherwell game because they are going to look at Saturday’s result as a chance for them to get three points against us.
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“So we need to prove every team wrong especially at home because we need to start picking up results there also.”
Aberdeen did beat Motherwell in their first Pittodrie encounter back in September, thanks to a James Wilson goal, but Motherwell took their revenge with a thumping 3-0 victory at Fir Park.
The Steelmen also head to the Granite City knowing that anything other than an away win would kill their slim top six hopes.
Lowe, however, is more interested in getting Aberdeen back into the top three ahead of the split and their Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic.
The left-back acknowledges his side need to tighten up defensively because that has been their Achilles Heel at times this season and proved to be the case at Tynecastle for both Hearts’ goals.
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“We want to get back into Europe but there were basic errors,” Lowe conceded.
“We got away with a couple but we didn’t with the two goals.
“It’s basic defending and basic play, trying to get us up the pitch.
“Sometimes if you stick to the simple stuff the game becomes easier and then you can start being more creative in the final third and take confidence from that.”
The Englishman knows there were spells in the capital where Aberdeen were dominant but is well aware they need to find a way to dig out results.
Lowe acknowledged: “It was a game of two halves really.
“We started the game off very well and deserved the goal. In the first half we controlled the game.
“Second half was almost the other way around.
“We dealt well with Hearts physicality in the first half but second half we didn’t do the things that got us into that position.
“In a way we were lucky it was only two as they had some other chances from long balls and second bits of play where we didn’t pick up the ball and mark our men.
“We weren’t good enough and Hearts deserved to win."
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In fairness, digging out results when the chips are down has been a trademark of Derek McInnes ’s Aberdeen sides in recent season.
They always seem to be at their best when they are written off and their manager will be hoping his team can prove that is the case again.
Lowe is looking for the hurt of Gorgie to be channelled into putting things right against Motherwell.
“It was a quiet changing room because we are all gutted,” Lowe openly added. “In the race for Europe we know what we’ve got to do so it’s disappointing and that game was there for us to take.”
