SCOTT STAYS
NEW BOY HANDS GERS A SHARE ONE Point proof that we’re on way up
himself another striker now. I feel like I have been ready for a while, it’s just about getting minutes now.
“I’ll be ready if the manager needs me but that will be his decision.”
After Dons’ midweek heroics in Burnley, McInnes was unpleasantly surprised by the manner in which his team opened up yesterday – needing a teenage rookie to save the day after going 1-0 down to a ten man Rangers side.
The manager said: “I’m pleased we got something from the game as, for me, it was no more than we deserved.
“When you don’t play anywhere near your best then it’s important you still get something.
“I’m disappointed with the level of performance after they went down to 10 men.
“But I was pleased with the discipline of my players and the control they showed in a fantastic atmosphere.
“The onus was on us to find a way to ask the question and that side of it wasn’t there. We didn’t move the ball quickly enough but there’s no doubt my boys who played 90 minutes and extra time on Thursday didn’t have the same intensity.
“We have been nowhere near our level because of that. There was a mental tiredness as well as physical tiredness. That’s a real explanation why we didn’t bring our normal level.
“That said, you then have to reply on other things for freshness and inspiration and wee Bruce brought that.
“The thing I love about the boy is that he goes onto the pitch expecting to get chances – he went on and won a header against a boy that’s a foot taller than him.
“Then he went looking for space and he didn’t just stand up against defenders.
“It was a brilliant finish against a very good goalie in Allan McGregor. That gave our supporters something and it was great to see my players celebrate with them, with the Rangers players on their knees.”
McInnes refused to comment when asked about Gerrard’s conspiracy theory and his belief that the world has been against Rangers for some time.
But he did swat away suggestions that his own side should have been reduced to 10 men after Dominic Ball BY MICHAEL GANNON SCOTT ARFIELD insists Rangers’ battling display at Pittodrie proved the Ibrox men will be no pushovers this season.
The Gers midfielder was gutted Aberdeen pinched a point at the death after Steven Gerrard’s side were on course to win with 10 men.
But Arfield was adamant previous Gers teams would not have been able to dig out a point in the circumstances and yesterday’s display was a mark of the character of the new-look team.
He said: “From the first day of pre-season we have worked towards this game.
“We’re working on standards, expectations, demands of this club and Aberdeen knew this.
“I don’t think previous Rangers teams get a result given the circumstances so we should be proud. If there was 11 men out there then there would only have been one team in it.”
Arfield thought Alfredo Morelos’ red card was harsh but admitted Gers are building up a siege mentality at Ibrox.
He said: “Is the world against us? You have to have that, even if nobody feels like that. You need to come together.” barged Josh Windass to give away the penalty which James Tavernier slotted home to put Rangers 1-0 up right on the half hour mark.
He said: “No, I don’t think so. It was soft, at the time. I don’t know what exactly the rules are now with that.
“It doesn’t take a lot for Windass to go down a lot of times anyway but my staff have looked at it and they thought it was a penalty.
“I don’t know if it’s a red card. I’m disappointed with a lot of the decisions at times today.
“But my team kept their composure and their discipline, which was always important in these types of games.” FROM BACK PAGE the end of a week which saw Swansea linked with a move for the defender – and claims that Celtic may also be in the running.
But McInnes is adamant the Scotland new boy will be staying put at Pittodrie.
Speaking after their 1-1 draw with Gers, he said: “I don’t know how long he’ll be out for yet, he will be scanned tomorrow.
“It’s a tear. There are different levels of tear so I wouldn’t want to guess.
“Best case scenario a couple of weeks, worst case could be six to eight. It has been a tough day but we’ve got a point and the players, after Thursday’s exertions, deserve a bit of credit. Now they get a few days off.”
McInnes also dismissed reports linking Brendan Rodgers to his star stopper.
He said: “I spoke with Brendan last week and we never mentioned it. I’m sure if there is interest I’ll be the first to hear about it.
“It’s strange headlines can be ‘a club is considering’.
“I’m considering doing a lot of things as well but actually trying to do it is another thing entirely.
“McKenna is in a good place here, he sees that, and I don’t expect him to move any time soon. He’s not moving great anyway, because of his hamstring! But I think he’ll be with us when the window closes.
“We haven’t had our troubles to seek because we were putting square pegs into round holes at times. We have six senior defenders in the building and four were injured or suspended.
“So that’s something we’ll hopefully address this week because we don’t have the squad of others.
“Our bench was young today but one of them did what he’s expected to do when he gets the chance.”
BRUCE ANDERSON