Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has urged the Red Army to remain behind his team because he knows together they will turn the season around.

Aberdeen's last-minute loss at Dundee United means it is now eight games without victory. The Dons remain in third place, just behind Rangers, although United is now within touching distance just behind them. Thelin, who led his team to an impressive early season unbeaten run, knows his players need to get back to winning ways and will be aiming to do that on Thursday, when Ross County visit Pittodrie.

Thelin admitted: “They (the fans) have been backing us up all the time. When we travel there is always a big away support. The last game (at Kilmarnock) was really disappointing but they were back at Dundee United again, to try and give us that extra punch to get the points and energy to the players.

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“They did amazing and I can understand their frustration but they were here and that is so important when you have difficult times that you stay together and try to get it out on the other side. I am not doubting we are going to do that but right now it is tough. “We have to get out of the other side.”

Thelin has also laid down the gauntlet to his players to get their campaign back on track. He knows it is time to stand up and deliver. They can’t hide because they are the only ones who can turn things around. We can’t hide or wait for some magic thing to happen,” Thelin warned. We have to get through it and try to be better. You always get what you deserve in the long run. It is not over. “It is just a part of the season that we aren’t happy with. The only way to get out of it is to work hard, keep the head high and to take the next challenge. You get challenges in life and football and you have to try and take them, fight and be stronger.”

Thelin hoped the 4-0 defeat at Kilmarnock was his rock-bottom. He reckons there was a big improvement at Dundee United although a last-minute switch off at a set piece cost them dearly. Thelin, speaking to RedTV, acknowledged: “We have to do things better, we know that. Dundee United are really good at set plays, we know that. I think we defended quite well and then we lost it in the last minute of the game.

“We were better on the whole but we still need to do a little bit more of creating chances. I still feel we took a big step forward to a platform to the team you could recognise from the beginning of the season. How the players run for each other, we were more compact and we have to keep working from here.”