WILLIE MILLER insists Aberdeen’s Premiership title challenge won’t be dead in the water if they lose to league leaders Celtic on Saturday.

After a superb start to the season that saw the Dons win their first eight top flight fixtures, Derek McInnes’ side head to Parkhead this weekend in desperate need of a result to kick-start their campaign.

Celtic have opened up a four point advantage at the top of the table and will hope to see off their title rivals and pull further away as they chase a fifth consecutive league triumph.

And Pittodrie legend Miller hopes his former club can spark some excitement in our game and keep the race going for longer.

He said: “The disappointing aspect has been the last four games for Aberdeen after that fabulous start.

“We thought we were going to get a real close title challenge. If they lose on Saturday it’s still only seven points which is recoverable.

“You have to remember we’ve got Hearts putting in a challenge whereas last season it was Aberdeen on their own. Hearts have already taken points off Celtic and I think jointly they can keep it closer.

“The last thing we want in Scottish football is for Celtic to run away with it. Aberdeen have that responsibility on Saturday to make sure the doubters aren’t correct and they get something out of the game.

“Within Scotland everyone expects Celtic to run away with the title. I don’t think that happened last season.

“Aberdeen put in a credible title challenge right up until April which we haven’t seen for a number of years.

“I’ve always been a supporter of getting Hearts back in the league and it’s the same with Rangers and Hibs. We need that kind of title challenge at the top.

“These are our big clubs who bring in tens of thousands to our game regularly and we need them back in there to make it a credible league and that it won’t just be a parade as most people will think if Celtic win on Saturday.”