Before the team’s shock and awe last weekend in Paisley, the Dons faced a 2-0 loss at Rugby Park and were subjected to a scathing critique from their boss last month.
Following the St Mirren collapse, there was complete stillness inside the Aberdeen dressing room. The last time they faced Kilmarnock, Derek McInnes’ team bullied them off the pitch.
Although Killian Phillips agrees with the criticism from an enraged Neil Warnock, he still thinks they can do better against Killie on Saturday in the Scottish Cup.
According to the Daily Record, the Crystal Palace loanee is convinced that his team has improved since their last setbacks and can deliver a performance that will lead them back to Hampden.
“It stings every time you lose a game,” said Phillips. “When the gaffer said stuff like that he was right in what he said. It does hurt and it is up to us to turn it around to make it right. We have a chance to put the wrongs right.
“It is nice that it is away from the league and a one-off game. It has to end on the day, someone has to win. It was a tough game against Kilmarnock as they are a good side who are having a decent season.
“It is a one-off cup game and no two games are the same. Winning your individual battles is the first priority in any game. That’s what you have to do and the rest will take care of itself.”
Both Warnock and Phillips are still waiting for their first league victories since their arrivals in the Granite City, and Phillips has opened up on the atmosphere after the late collapse against the Buddies.
“To be honest, playing football made me feel the sickest I have ever felt,” he continued. The boys had the same feeling. On the bus, nobody talked. It ached a lot. Up to the ninetieth minute, our defence was almost flawless due to our diligent work.
“Everyone was destroyed. Acceptance was difficult. Up until the conclusion of the game, I felt we played well against St. Mirren.
“We need to play like that every week. In football, you have to work for your wins and we’ve been having a hard time since I joined. Winning games is the most important thing. So far, our results haven’t been good enough, everyone knows that.”
Fans have criticised Warnock because of the recent Premiership performances, but Phillips has only good things to say about the experienced manager, based on what he’s heard from staff at Palace.
“I like working with him,” the Irishman said. “People at Palace told me what he’s like and they all said good things about him. He’s been great.
“Our results haven’t been what we wanted but it’s up to us to change that. And he’s shown us how we can do it. When you see him on the training pitch every day you realise he loves the game, he loves football.”
“He wouldn’t be here at 75 if he didn’t love football. When you are on the training ground every day with him and see him around the place you see how much he loves football. How much he cares.
“I’m only here so far until the end of the season and I’m focusing on winning games. This is my club for now, that’s how I see it and I’m sure it’s how the manager sees it as well.”
“You come in every day and there are not many better people in the game who have been in football that you can learn off. I’m hoping to take little bits off him.”
Phillips moved to Aberdeen at the end of the winter transfer window. He had previously been linked with the Dons last summer before joining Wycombe Wanderers.
Fellow Irishman Jamie McGrath then persuaded him to finally make the move to Pittodrie. Phillips said: “I’m very happy to be here and probably wish I had come in the summer in fairness.”
“It was just talks (at the start of the season). I didn’t really deal with it, it was the agent and the clubs so I’m not too sure how far it got along.
“I was present at Wycombe when the season began. Despite our struggles in the league and the fact that we should have performed far better, it was respectable.
“When this opportunity arose in January, I seized it immediately upon realising the magnitude of the club. McGrath told me how much he had appreciated it previously when we spoke.
