'React': Inside Aberdeen squad as key man lifts lid on malaise after Rangers drubbing

The Dons have slipped down the Premiership standings and, in ninth place, are now three points above the relegation play-off position with seven matches remaining.

Aberdeen have only won one league match in 2026 and Saturday’s 4-1 defeat by Rangers, alongside wins for Kilmarnock and St Mirren beneath them, have made the situation even more precarious for the Pittodrie side. Their new manager Stephen Robinson has only been in position for two matches and his next assignment is a trip to Paisley to face his former club in a relegation six-pointer after the international break.

Striker Nisbet wore the captain’s armband at Ibrox and admitted that the players took a deserved “bollocking” from Robinson afterwards. He urged for unity within the dressing room as they bid to stave off a disastrous situation.

“He said a few home truths, to be honest,” said Nisbet. “I think as players, we can't take it personally. We need to react in the right way. React in a positive way, rather than moping about. I think we're all men. If we take a bollocking, then that's fine.

“It's on us. It's not on individuals. It's on us as a collective. I think everyone in there is responsible for how the season has been and how Saturday night went. For us, it's just about keeping together as a team. Staying together, sticking together and trying to win as many games as possible.

“I think you need to keep the mood high. There's no point in being doom and gloom. Then it kind of goes on to the next game. It kind of carries on to the next game. For us, it's just about keeping our heads up. Just focusing on St Mirren.”

Asked if the Aberdeen players have now accepted they are in a dogfight, Nisbet responded: “Yeah, I think we accepted that weeks ago, to be honest. We knew the performances weren’t good enough. But I think now it's a realisation for the squad. It's just up to us, we now to dust ourselves down and come back on Monday and get to work.

“I think we'll probably see what kind of character the team is now. I obviously back the team, I think we've got a lot of good players. We just need to stick together and get to the end of the season and get as many points as possible.”