Partick 0-2 Aberdeen: We are ready for Celtic - Derek McInnes

Aberdeen last started the season with five wins in 1984/85, the last time they won the league

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes says his team are ready for Celtic, with the Dons eyeing top spot in the league.

McInnes' men made it five league wins out of five with a 2-0 victory over Partick Thistle, their best start to a season since 1984.

After the international break they host Ronny Deila's side, with just one point separating the two.

"Pittodrie will be rocking, it'll be a full house. There's a belief we can win the game," he told BBC Scotland.

Aberdeen were Celtic's closest challengers last season but fell to defeat in all four league meetings against them.

The Dons boss is keen to put that right this term, and with just one goal conceded all season he feels his team are in great shape for the visit of the champions.

"We've had three away games now in the first five games and we've managed to get those victories." said McInnes.

"We're at home, we're against a good team in Celtic. They'll still be favourites and rightly so because they've been there and done it. The challenge is for us to go and try and win the game.

"We have to play well, we have to be fully concentrated, but obviously it's got all the ingredients of a top fixture."

Goals from Adam Rooney and Kenny McLean at Firhill meant Aberdeen are the only top flight team still boasting a 100% record, and McInnes reserved praise for Liverpool's on-loan goalkeeper Danny Ward.

Kenny McLean pounced after David Goodwillie's initial shot was saved to make it 2-0 Aberdeen

McInnes said: "We've got players playing with a lot of confidence. We've got a squad where I could have picked five or six teams today and I would have confidence in each and every one of them.

"The last two Saturdays we've come in at half-time at 0-0 after two strong first-half performances, but we put that demand on the players to get the game won.

"Danny's made a couple of great saves. I thought Thistle to their credit created some good openings for themselves, but sometimes when a game's tight it's your goalkeeper and centre forward who can make the difference, and that was the case today."

Partick Thistle were incensed the first goal was awarded with suspicions of handball against Rooney, and Jags manager Alan Archibald felt his players had a case.

He said: "The big talking point was the goal, it changed it, it was a blatant handball. I said a few weeks ago against Celtic it's a grey area and it's hard for the referees.

"It's got to be a handball, it doesn't matter if it's deliberate or not, but we've lost a goal on the back of it and it's a sore one to take.

"(I am) delighted with the reaction afterwards, we still created chances against a top team."

With Frederic Frans the latest player to join a growing injury list after going off clutching his hamstring, Archibald admits there is a need to bring players in before the end of the transfer window.

He said: "There is scope to bring someone in but it's very hard, the budget makes it difficult. We'll keep working to try and get boys in."