Few thrills in Perth as McIness insists no wr Ongdoing over Wright
A THRILLING encounter unfolded in Tayside last night, but this wasn’t it. Twenty miles south-west of Tannadice where Dundee United and St Mirren were conjuring up six goals, St Johnstone and Aberdeen failed to muster up even one between them.
The goalless draw probably suited the home side better, extending their unbeaten run to six games and maintaining the feel-good factor on the back of Saturday’s Betfred Cup semi-final win over Hibernian.
Aberdeen remain the last team to have beaten Callum Davidson’s side back on Boxing Day but couldn’t repeat the feat here. They were the more adventurous of the sides throughout a contest that failed to rise beyond the mediocre but failed to fashion much in the way of notable chances.
When they did, the St Johnstone backline proved equal to it on their way to a third successive clean sheet. Aberdeen’s prospects of catching Celtic in second seemed ambitious to start with and results like this certainly won’t help them in that cause.
“I thought we played well in the game and in the first-half we were very good,” said Derek
McInnes, who confirmed Funso Ojo was away to seal a loan move to Wigan Athletic.
“We had pockets of good play but needed someone in the final third to show that bit of quality.”
McInnes kept faith in Scott Wright following confirmation that the midfielder had concluded a pre-contract agreement to move to Rangers in the summer.
The decision attracted predictable bile on social media, with Wright perhaps grateful that there were no Aberdeen fans inside McDiarmid Park to tell him what they thought to his face.
It was a clear message from McInnes that Wright will remain in his plans for the remainder of the season.
“I understand [the fans’ reaction] but the club has to try to get the best offer for any player at any given time” he added.
“When a player signs a precontract elsewhere the first thing you look for is the focus and that was a fully committed performance tonight.
“I see my players Monday to Friday, and no-one plays if they don’t put the effort in. Why should we weaken our team? Why should Aberdeen suffer if we don’t get an offer we like?”
The Ibrox-bound player demonstrated his value in one terrific first-half move, his clever reverse pass sending Ryan Hedges darting into
the box. Only a brave block from Jamie McCart denied the Welshman what looked a certain goal.
Sam Cosgrove is another in the Aberdeen squad attracting covetous glances from elsewhere. Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City are among those said to be interested in taking the big striker down south.
Cosgrove, for now, remains at the apex of the Aberdeen attack and briefly showed what he’s capable of with one powerful header that Zander Clark was grateful to cling on to. Another biff on target early in the second half from the striker was also repelled for a corner.
St Johnstone looked like a team who had used up all their energy reserves during their heroics at Hampden.
They did little to trouble Joe Lewis in the Aberdeen goal although the keeper would have been relieved to see Michael Halloran’s header from Craig Conway’s ball drift wide of target late in the first half.
Davidson handed a late debut to Glenn Middleton and the Rangers loanee almost made an instant impact with a rasping drive that Lewis did well to repel to ensure his side left Perth with a point.
“It was not a classic by any means,” said Davidson with considerable understatement. “I don’t think either goalkeeper was really tested.”