By BRIAN MARJORIBANKS McDonald seeks revenge for the baiting of McGhee
“Fan thought he was being gutsy... it was embarrassing”
SCOTT McDONALD remains adamant that certain Aberdeen fans should be embarrassed about their treatment of Mark McGhee the last time Motherwell visited Pittodrie.
The Australian striker was suspended for his side’s 7-2 thumping on February 15 but, to his disgust, he could not avoid seeing the video clip which went viral after McGhee’s sending-off during his team’s cataclysmic collapse.
It showed the former Pittodrie player and manager bellowing at heckling Dons supporters, one of whom had recorded his humiliation for posterity.
A swift return trip to the Granite City fortress today offers Motherwell’s misfiring players the chance to atone for their own sins, which ultimately led to McGhee’s sacking after a 5-1 home thrashing by Dundee.
Ahead of this afternoon’s daunting assignment, McDonald called on his team-mates to make up for that dark night in Aberdeen by producing the kind of display that could boost caretaker boss Steve Robinson’s chances of taking over permanently.
‘I wasn’t there the last time we played Aberdeen but we want to put that right,’ said McDonald.
‘I think there are amends to be made. Not just for that 7-2 result but for the results since the winter break. It’s not been great and we really need to get going.
‘The buck for bad results stops with the players. We were all disappointed that Mark left. We all felt we had let him down.
‘It’s the first time in a changing room I’ve seen a manager leave and there’s not been a split or a dressing-room divide.
‘Everyone was just in shock and disappointed that we had let him down. That’s out of our hands now and it’s something Steve Robinson has touched on.
‘He told us: “Managers don’t get another chance but you guys get to go again. It’s up to you to take it”.’
McDonald stopped just fractionally short of saying what he really felt about one Aberdeen fan who baited McGhee then posted the clip over the internet.
But he was left dismayed, albeit not surprised, by the disrespect shown to a man who was idolised as a player at Pittodrie when he helped them win the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1983.
‘A football match is the only environment that someone would come out and say stuff like they did to Mark McGhee that night,’ said the former Celtic striker.
‘I don’t care whether it’s Pittodrie, Celtic Park or Ibrox, all fans think it’s okay now to give their tuppence worth.
‘We (players and managers) can’t react. If we do it’s: “How dare you! You are role models!” And that’s fine. We have to play by those rules. But, in terms of respect, I thought it was poor what that person said and did.
‘It was embarrassing for him and his support. He thought he was being gutsy with a camera behind him but would he be brave enough to say it if he walked past a person in the street? I think not.
‘That’s the disappointing thing in society. It’s not just in football. People use social media to become a lot braver. In normal society, they would be minding their own business.
‘It’s disappointing. Yes, the manager was emotional that night but I don’t think he did anything wrong.
‘He had an argument with the referee. He didn’t argue with the people in the stands but then they stuck a camera in his face!
‘But I don’t think that will happen again. If a manager gets sent to the stand now (at Pittodrie) they won’t be put in that position again. They will be taken up the tunnel.’
McDonald credits caretaker boss Robinson for making the tactical and personnel changes at Kilmarnock last weekend which saw Motherwell come from behind to earn a vital 2-1 victory.
‘I’m sure that win will stand him in good stead with the board,’ said McDonald. ‘He’s very good on organisation and getting his points across. For as long as he is in charge, we want to give him the best possible opportunity in front of the board and fans — and that means winning games.’