Aberdeen second best team in Scotland - Gary Mackay-Steven

Mackay-Steven has scored all four of his Aberdeen goals against Hibs

Gary Mackay-Steven admits his man-of-the-match performance against Hibernian is something he has to produce on a more regular basis.

But the winger maintains that Aberdeen have shown that they are the second-best team in the country.

Mackay-Steven set up the first goal before scoring a hat-trick in Saturday's 4-1 victory over Hibernian.

"We really feel that behind Celtic we're the best team in the country," the 27-year-old told BBC Scotland.

"We wanted to show that and I felt we did that.

"The last few years Aberdeen have been second place comfortably. We're used to winning so there's a real winning mentality regardless of Hibs, Rangers or whoever it may be who's around us in the table."

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The comprehensive victory moved Derek McInnes' side three points clear in second spot, leap-frogging Rangers, who slipped to defeat at home to St Johnstone.

Celtic, unbeaten in the league since May 2016, are two points clear at the top, with two games in hand.

Mackay-Steven was irresistible as Aberdeen outclassed Hibs, growing in confidence as the game progressed.

"Probably the biggest thing with me is consistency," he acknowledged.

"But I've got belief in myself and I know the levels I can reach. The manager wants me to be the difference-maker every single week and that's something I'm aspiring to.

"This certainly helps with confidence but I just want to contribute every second I'm on the pitch. Obviously we've got a lot of games over this period and there's a lot of the season to go, so I just want to contribute greatly to this Aberdeen campaign."