By
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
- Published2 minutes ago
Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premiership visit ofHibernian(17:45 GMT).
Here are the key lines:
Mats Knoester (tendon) and Emmanuel Gyamfi (thigh) have been ruled out for a minimum of 10 weeks.
Both players recently returned from injury and Robinson says: "They just can't seem to get a run of games unfortunately, mentally as well it has been so, so tough."
Dan Happe and Toyosi Olusanya both return to the squad but Ayoub Mouloua (illness) joining the list of players out. Robinson says "people don't want to hear excuses" and the number of absentees means "somebody else gets an opportunity".
Aberdeen are 10th in the Premiership, just three points above bottom club Hibs, Robinson regards Saturday's match as one "we have to win", adding: "We have to try and take the game to them and pick as positive a team as we possibly can."
With pressure mounting on Robinson after four defeats in five, he was asked if the club need to hold their nerve with him and the team, replying: "I am not getting away from the fact we need to start winning games, simple."
But he points out: "History will tell you that when there is longevity in the manager's role and consistency and stability and everyone going in the same direction, which it hasn't been for a long time, then it leads to success."
He says it "won't be my decision whether I get that amount of time" and all he can do is "put the things in place I believe will work, that I have proved will work, and that does take time. But I am very aware that you do not get time".
Robinson believes his side have been "decent" defensively but "the problem has been a lack of goals.
Aberdeen have netted 12 league goals - only Hibs have scored fewer - and the Dons boss says: "Sometimes it needs to go in off somebody's backside or something just to give you a little bit of luck and hopefully that will start changing soon."
He is surprised to see Hibs struggling at the wrong end of the table as they have an "excellent squad" and the League Cup semi final over Hearts will give them a boost, but it is "up to us to meet that and go and produce".
