Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
McInnes: I did not doubt Dons
ABERDEEN manager Derek McInnes was confident his side were always going to find a winner against Fola Esch in their Europa League first qualifying round first leg at Pittodrie.
The Dons scored two late g o a l s , N i a l l M c G i n n ’s deflected 90th-minute strike and an Adam Rooney penalty seven minutes into added time, to secure a deserved 3-1 victory.
Shay Logan had given Aberdeen the lead in the 68th minute, only for the away side t o equalise shortly afterwards though a close-range finish from captain Julien Klein.
However, the Reds struck twice late on to give themselves a t wo-goal advantag e to take to Luxembourg for next Thursday’s return match.
McInnes said:“We’ve had plenty of occasions over my few years here where the team has demonstrated that ability to keep going to the end and get late goals. That was in evidence today.
“When the minutes are running away, t here i s always a fear you don’t get that goal. But there is also a confidence when you see the players trying to do the right things.
“That game could have been 1-1 if we hadn’t kept showing that determination and desire. But the game could also have been 6-1 or 7-1 if truth be told.”
McInnes added: “Their keeper had a good night and it could have been a lot more. I can’t be too critical of the players at all because at this stage of our preparation we are not going to be where we will eventually be.”