The new Scotland under-21 cap has been impressed with the Dons new head coach
10:56, 01 Apr 2026
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Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson during training
Mitchel Frame insists Stephen Robinson has come in and made it crystal clear what he expects from his Aberdeen squad.
The new boss took the Dons for the draw with Falkirk and the defeat at Rangers and will now head back to Paisley on Saturday to take on St Mirren in a massive game at the bottom end of the table.
The Scottish Cup holders - set to hand Findlay Marshall a new long-term contract - are just three points ahead of his former team, who are just out of the play-off spot on goal difference from Kilmarnock.
Frame admitted Robinson simplified how he expects his newly-inherited team to play. The defender has revealed how he turned down a move to Liverpool to make the switch to Aberdeen last summer.
The left-back said: “It's been tough. Obviously, we've not had many wins, but, you know, it was tough with managers coming in and managers going out.
“But the most important thing is we stuck together as a team and now with the new manager in I feel like we're starting to get into the rhythm of things. We all know what you're doing, it's very important.
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Aberdeen's Mitchel Frame
“He was only in for 48 hours and everybody had a clear picture in their head of what they wanted to do. He is very clear in what he wanted to do and how he wanted to play.”
Robinson wants his team on the front foot. Frame confirmed: “He’s wanting us to press quite high and obviously play in their half.
"I feel like we were struggling a wee bit to create chances and stuff, so he's wanting us to play a lot more in their half, which seems to be working because against Falkirk, we had a lot more chances than we did usually. I feel like now it's just about trying to get in their half and create as much chances as possible.”
The cup-winning former St Mirren boss has walked into Pittodrie with a real fire and desire. He is very passionate,” the former Celtic youngster claimed. He likes to get his point across and knows what he wants to do, which is good because it gives you that clarity. You know, you don't have any problems worrying about what you have to do because he gives you that clarity on what you need to do.”
Robinson is also vocal on the sideline and Frame knows that is a positive for him.
Aberdeen Head Coach Stephen Robinson
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Aberdeen Head Coach Stephen Robinson (Image: SNS Group)
He claimed: “It does help because, you know, we're playing a four (at the back) most of the season. So to go into a five, it's good to have somebody who's used to that formation and can help you out.
“Defensively I prefer the five. I think attacking, I would say the four, we get a bit more joy. But defensively, going forward, I feel like we need to be strong because of the position we're in just now. So I feel like the five would definitely work going for the games ahead. You need to just be able to play both. You need to just be able to fit into the system and just help out the team as much as you can.”
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Frame, who has jsut returned from his first Scotland under-21 cap, has had to be patient for his Pittodrie chance. He was signed in the summer, but had to wait until Jimmy Thelin departed before he got his chance. It was interim Peter Leven, who has since left to become No. 2 at Rotherham, who gave him his big break.
Frame stated: “He always believed in me. He always said, just make sure you go and enjoy yourself and use your abilities because he believed in me. He was saying that I could, like he said, get more crosses in, get more balls in, get more assists, even try and get shots off. It gave me a lot of self-belief and a lot of confidence because it's good when the manager believes in you and he wants you to do it.”