Mark McGhee knows Aberdeen are condemned to their worst finish in the SPL since 2004 but the Dons manager insists he does not fear for his future at Pittodrie.

McGhee’s Reds slumped to another abject defeat at McDiarmid Park last night, the club’s 10th match without a win, as Cillian Sheridan struck a first-half winner for St Johnstone.

Aberdeen are now firmly mired in the bottom half of the table, in eighth position, seven points behind sixth-placed Hearts and four points behind the Saints. The Dons have played one match more than the latter, with just five games remaining until the split.

Aberdeen are now on course for their worst SPL placing since the fraught reign of Steve Paterson, who was sacked after his side finished second from bottom in the table in 2004.

McGhee does not believe he is destined for a similar fate and he is more determined than ever to ensure a successful future at Pittodrie.

He had little complaints about the result last night as Saints emerged on top in every area of the pitch.

McGhee said: “I would say the top six is beyond us now.

“We just have to concentrate on winning our next game. I do not think we can fantasise we are going to win all of our games convincingly enough to finish in the top six.

“The club is looking to the future and I was given that guarantee when I came. It is not something which is keeping me awake at night.

“You can never say never in football but I look at my own performance just like I ask the players to look at theirs.

“I have to be honest with myself and look to see where I can do better. As long as I can look myself in the mirror I am not going to be kept awake worrying if my job is under threat.

“We are doing slightly worse than we hoped to have done. When I came here I imagined we would be able to finish in the top six but not necessarily in third.

“I was given a brief of introducing the young players and that process is under way.”

McGhee is defiant in the face of heavy criticism and he is determined to win over the doubters.

He is predicting wholesale changes in the summer as the squad stumbles towards the end of the season.

He said: “The amount of criticism I have had in the last month has steeled me to do everything I can to turn it round. What has disappointed me is that some people have had doubts I am able to do that. I think I have proven to be successful in every previous job and there is no reason I cannot be successful here.

“Just because I have not been successful in my first season does not mean that is the end of it.”

Midfielder Gary McDonald suffered a hamstring injury and is a doubt for this weekend’s visit of Dundee United.

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