Monday 9 February 2015 09:45, UK
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes being able to focus solely on the Scottish Premiership title race could benefit his team.
The Dons thrashed Ross County 4-0 to move level on points with leaders Celic, albeit having played two games more than the Hoops, who were involved in Scottish Cup action.
In contrast, Aberdeen have been knocked out of both the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup to allow them to concentrate on trying to secure their first Scottish crown since 1985.
They were assisted by a mistake from County 'keeper Antonio Reguero, who gifted an early goal for Adam Rooney, before Shay Logan and substitutes Peter Pawlett and David Goodwillie scored in the second half.
"Time will tell if it actually helps (only having the league to play for),” said McInnes.
“We would rather be in the cups but we have got 14 games left so it now becomes a 14-game season for us, and it is important we try and maximise that as much as we can.
"I think the squad is strong and is the strongest it has been all season. We made a couple of changes today and both substitutes came on and scored in Peter and David.
"We have also got Barry Robson and Willo Flood sitting on the bench ready to come on and play their part when required.”
McInnes was pleased with the response of his players after they were beaten 2-1 by Dundee United in last weekend’s Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.
"It was a good response from the players and it was our biggest league victory of the season as well, so I think they deserve a lot of credit,” he added.
"It was disappointing, obviously, last weekend and it was important that we came out with a real determination."
Ross manager Jim McIntyre was disappointed his players made key mistakes at Pittodrie, with defeat meaning they remain six points adrift at the foot of the table.
"It was a tough day at the office. It was always going to be difficult coming to a team bang on form and at the top end of the league, but we gifted goals which basically killed the match off for us,” he said.
"Invariably when your goalkeeper makes a mistake it ends up in a goal and our goalkeeper has had two today. Antonio has done really well for us in the last six or seven weeks but this was not his day and it is a sore one to take.
"I feel with the additions we made in the window, we have a stronger squad than when I took over and I think we will get the job done, I really do.
“I have got belief in the players and the staff that we are good enough to get out of it. It is going to go down to the wire, there is no doubt about that."
