Mark McGhee is hoping for a more "tolerant" referee for their Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against St Johnstone after the performance of match official Steven Nicholls dominated last week's defeat at Hibernian.
Nicholls' display proved to be the biggest talking point of the day when he showed red cards to Maurice Ross and Chris Maguire and cautioned six other players as the Dons ended the match with nine men.
McGhee admits the referee did stick to the letter of the law but has called for more common sense in future, with Euan Norris set to take control of their match with Saints on Saturday.
"I think the referee was entitled within the rules to interpret all the bookings the way he did," he said.
"Technically speaking, all of them could have been bookings and therefore he was entitled to send players off.
"What I would hope was that referees would look at it slightly differently and would be less inclined to book for such trivial and petty challenges.
"I hope for a more tolerant kind of referee, that's what I would hope for."
Speaking ahead of the visit of Saints, McGhee added "They've found their feet and they believe they can win games now at this level.
"Physically, they are really competing well and they are not going to be messed about by anyone.
"They have one or two players who can cause you a problem and who are good players and we are going to have to be as up for it as we were in that last half hour at Easter Road but start to take our chances."
St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes has played down the prospect of easing into a top-six spot.
The Clydesdale Bank Premier League new boys will complete the first quarter of the campaign against the Dons and if they pick up three points, and other results go their way, they will climb in to the top half of the table.
McInnes told Press Association Sport that it is too early to read anything into league placings but admits his assessment of his side's performance in the first quarter has been mostly positive.
"If we can jump a few places it will be great but it would take three or four other results to go our way," he said.
"The first quarter can give you an indication of how you are doing but I think it will be the turn of the year before we get a fairer reflection of how things are going.
"However, in terms of performances this season I've been pleased.
"If we can take something from the Aberdeen game then it will be a good solid start to the campaign.
"I had every confidence that my players would perform in this league when we came up and we have acquitted ourselves well, although like every manager I am always looking for more points.
"Aberdeen are a big club and have a good side but it is games like this that we have worked hard to earn the right to play.
"We have got to be positive and hopefully we will get a result."
McInnes will not allow thoughts to stray to Monday, when his side go into the hat along with St Mirren, Hearts and Rangers for the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final draw, although the matches are not scheduled to take place until the new year.
The former Rangers and West Brom midfielder said: "It's something to look forward to but it's a bit bizarre that the semi-final games are so far away.
"It's important that we go into this game against Aberdeen focused, looking for a positive performance and trying to get the points."
St Johnstone have doubts over Steven Anderson and Collin Samuel.
Defender Anderson has a toe injury, while striker Samuel is struggling with a knock to the knee.
Stuart McCaffrey (groin), Steven Milne (ankle) and Euan McLean (ankle) are out.
