ABERDEEN boss Mark McGhee still has his sights set on the Top Six.
Last week's home reverse against Hearts saw Aberdeen's winless streak extend to eight games but McGhee has refused to hit the panic button just yet.
He said: "Losing the next two or three games, the result of that is we may find ourselves closer to a relegation fight.
"It's still not the way I'm thinking. The phrase, 'Relegation fight' hasn't entered my head.
"I still feel there is an opportunity over the next couple of games for us to keep ourselves in the race for the top six, albeit we know eventually we have to start winning games."
McGhee would be happy to win ugly if it meant taking all three points against Accies at New Douglas Park.
"I think, for the sake of our season, the win is the thing," he said.
"However, I still think that playing well is probably the best route to a win.
"You can't plan to play badly and win but I think you can plan to play well and win.
"If we win on Saturday, things will look a little bit different."
McGhee believes a major improvement from last week from his front players, in particular, is key to ending a disappointing run of results.
He said: "I've looked at the Hearts game again and again and we were the better team.
"It was a terrible game, the pitch didn't help, the wind didn't help, and it was a poor game. But, overall, we were the better team.
"We passed the ball better, we had more territorial advantage, we had more possession and we never looked in any danger. They had one shot and got the goal so we were mugged in a sense.
"Had the strikers played 25% better, we could have won the game. The onus is on the creative, striking part of the team to do better."
Meanwhile, McGhee has questioned the timing of Scotland's friendly in Sweden - just three days before the season starts on August 14.
The Dons boss said: "I think it's a difficult one for us all. It really is a bit absurd.
"However, there is another side to it.
"If, by the time of the Sweden-Scotland game, we have players involved in it then we will be well happy.
"If we haven't, then the problems are going to be for other teams."
Aberdeen 11/8, Hamilton 7/4, Draw 12/5
Source: Team Talk
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