Aberdeen midfielder Jamie McGrath will take confidence from their European adventure ahead of another run of big games despite his frustration over their pool position.
McGrath’s 30-yard free-kick earned the Dons a 2-2 draw against PAOK in Greece on Thursday but their second point from four matches was not enough to keep alive qualification hopes in Europa Conference League Group G.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder told RedTV: “Every European game so far we should have got a result, which is the annoying thing. We could be in a lot better position in the group given different little things that could have gone our way
“Every game we have put on a really good show and been very unlucky. Hacken, Frankfurt away, Helsinki at home we probably should have won and we were 2-0 up at home against PAOK.
“It is frustrating we are not in a better position but can take confidence and belief that we can go toe to toe with some of the best teams.”
Aberdeen travel to Celtic Park in the cinch Premiership on Sunday and face more big games after the international break, including the visit of Eintracht Frankfurt, a trip to Finland to take on HJK and the Viaplay Cup final against Rangers on December 17.
McGrath said: “It’s a great time to be a player here, we have so much to look forward to, so many big games.
“We have a lot to look forward to so we have to stay in it together. It’s a great dressing room so hopefully it can be the start of something.”
The former St Mirren and Dundee United player was delighted to see his ambition pay off after discussing what to do with the long-range free-kick with fellow Irishman Jonny Hayes.
“I just said to Jonny, nothing to lose,” he said. “It’s what we work on. I was just feeling it and struck it well.
“Thankfully it went in and it was a great feeling to celebrate with the boys.
“I have scored a lot from the spot so it’s nice to score from a free-kick and my first European goal as well.
“I thought we fully deserved the point, the boys put in so much effort and defended with our lives. A really good night for us.
“We had a lot of things going against us in the game, a few decisions could have gone our way but we rode with it.”
