STEPHEN ROBINSON has called for perspective to be applied to analysis of Aberdeen’s progress since he took the reins in March.

The manager and his players have been heavily criticised after a meek 2-0 defeat at Dundee in the Premiership last weekend.

As the two teams prepare to reconvene in the Premier Sports Cup at Pittodrie on Saturday, Robinson was keen to remind his doubters he inherited a team toiling in the bottom six five months ago and that his new-look side had won their opening five matches of the current campaign.

“I don’t look at reactions and I presume you’re talking about social media — a cesspit of negativity so why we even mention it, I’m not too sure,” the former St Mirren boss said when asked about the backlash.

“Football needs perspective. When you’ve won five out of six, you’ve just beaten Hearts, who were runners-up last season, you’re in the last 16 of the cup, the only Premiership side that got maximum points [in the group stage], and we were able to stay clear of a relegation play-off [last season], you have to put perspective.

“Thirteen new players, there’s a lot of change. We expect to have bumps in the road when there’s that many changes. Had we lost to Hearts and beaten Dundee, everything would be looking in the right direction. And it still is, very much so going in the right direction.

“We know what we’re doing. We’re very, very confident in what we’re doing as a group, as a staff, and that won’t faze me at all.”

Robinson acknowledged everyone needs to “demand more” than was delivered last Saturday, but pointed out: “When you win five games in a row and you beat Hearts, you don’t get the same amount of praise as you do stick [when you lose].

“This is a project that is going to take a little bit of time. As I said, there’s been that much change. We’re not just rebuilding a back four. We’re rebuilding a whole squad. To do that in one window is very, very difficult. I think we’ve made brilliant strides in it.

“Criticism is part of the territory. You can choose to listen to it or you can believe in what you’re doing, which all the players, all the staff, the board, we all do.

“I know that over a lot of games at this level, if given time, there will be cup finals, top-six finishes and Europe. That has been proven over time. We all know that. We’ve all been critical of our performance ourselves but I know that we will be better.”

Brad Lyons and Mats Knoester remain sidelined but Connor Ronan could return after missing out last weekend.