ABERDEEN gaffer Mark McGhee hopes the fans will see past paper talk labelling him as Celtic-minded, and see his committment to the Dons.
The former Dons and Celtic striker was raging at reports he would field a weakened side against his boyhood heroes with one eye on Tuesday night's Scottish Cup fifth-round replay against Raith Rovers and cancelled the pre-match press conference.
In the event, it was a full-strength Aberdeen side which came back three times against the Parkhead men in a thrilling encounter to grab a point in a 4-4 draw, which allowed Rangers to restore their 10-point lead over the Hoops at the top of the SPL table with a 3-0 win over Hibernian at Ibrox on Sunday.
"I"ve taken points off Rangers and beaten Celtic at Parkhead in a game where I thought my wee mate (former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan) was going to hang himself.
"I will keep doing that and I don't think anyone, whether a Celtic supporter, Rangers supporter or any other supporter, has cause to doubt my commitment to taking points off anyone.
"On Saturday the team helped me enormously with the result and the performance and everyone seen my reaction at the end when the fourth goal went in.
"So I think it is done and I don't think it is something that can ever be raised again."
Raith would be looking forward to a quarter-final clash with fellow Irn-Bru First Division side Dundee if Aberdeen had not scored a 95th minute goal at Starks Park to earn the replay.
McGhee, aware of the importance of a good cup run for the Pittodrie club, reiterated his belief that the game against the Fifers was more important than the visit of Celtic.
He said: "There may come games that take on a greater importance, whether they be further on in the cup or in getting in to the top six or possibly getting a top four finish, or whatever.
"But so far this game against Raith is the most important, more than Saturday just past, regardless of what anybody else thinks."
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk