Friday 18 September 2015 12:01, UK
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes reckons his team's perfect start to the Scottish Premiership campaign is down to their work ethic.
The Dons have put another early exit from the Europa League qualifying stages behind them with seven successive league victories to open a five-point lead at the top of the table.
Last week's 2-1 success over Celtic, secured with the Dons down to 10 men following the dismissal of Jonny Hayes, was vital to further boost confidence at Pittodrie and silence critics ready to snipe about a lack of competition in the league.
And when asked about the 'secret of the team's success', McInnes told Sky Sports News HQ: "I'm not sure about the secret, but certainly a lot of hard work and having a good squad of players.
"We've managed to rotate that a few times as well, and the games have come thick and fast. Obviously, early on, with the European involvement we had to do that.
"But we've managed to find ways to win and we've had some tough fixtures in these opening games. I think Saturday's performance against Celtic, that win was important for lots of reasons; but to follow that up with the same three points with a win on Tuesday night was just as pleasing.
"I think the players have a real competitive edge about them, they believe they can do well this season in all competitions, and that's what we intend to do.
"But I think that sequence of results we've had, we've probably had similar unbeaten runs and sequences throughout the season, but obviously none at the start and the start has encouraged everybody."
Aberdeen travel to Tynecastle on Sunday to play newly-promoted Hearts, who have lost their two most recent games after making a bright start on their top-flight return.
But Hearts boss Robbie Neilson will be aiming to get back to winning ways for the Sky Live encounter, and McInnes is anticipating another difficult match.
McInnes said: "A tough game. I think Robbie's done a brilliant job there. A lot was expected of them and rightly so, the fan-base there, having come up and that bounce really from the Championship last year.
"They've got good experience and good physicality about them as well, and they've got a good management team there, so I think, all in all, everyone likes playing at Tynecastle.
"Sky have picked a good game for that to be the case, it's live and it will be a full house, our fans will go there in good numbers as well, so it's got all the ingredients for a good game, a lot of good players on show. Hopefully we can find another way to win. It's certainly a game the players will relish and even more so if we get the result. "
Regardless of Sunday's outcome, McInnes insists it is too soon to talk about winning trophies.
He said: "It's very early to be saying things like that. From our point of view we just want to be as competitive as possible for as long as possible in all competitions, and you know we've built a squad here and I think we've managed to get the squad that gives us the chance to do that, to be successful.
"We're delighted with the start, but it is only a start. But if we treat every game with the same focus and concentration then hopefully we can continue to win games and we'll see where it takes us."
Hearts v Aberdeen is live on Sky Sports 5 at 2pm on Sunday
