ROAD TO PERDI

Graeme: Failure to kill off Jambos was fatal

Aberdeen full- back Graeme Shinnie admits that failing to kill off Hearts when they had them on the ropes proved fatal.

In a blistering opening from Dons on Friday night, Shinnie crossed for Simon Church to volley in the opening goal after just four minutes.

But they ran out of steam and the Jambos deservedly won to all but end Derek McInnes’ title ambitions.

Scotland international Shinnie said: “The frustrating part was that we weren’t further ahead in the game.

“We had good clear- cut chances but didn’t take them and the game changed.

“I don’t know why but we stopped playing the way in which we’d started the game and it was frustrating.

“I don’t think we blew ourselves out.

“We had started the same way against Hamilton and kept it up for the whole game.

“I can’t put my finger on it. I don’t know why. We just couldn’t get to grips, couldn’t get the ball.

“We created a couple of good chances in the second half that could have changed the game again.

“But the frustrating part is we weren’t a couple of goals up at the start.”

Shinnie admitted the sight of captain Ryan Jack goingg off on a stretcher just before the break shouldn’t have put Aberdeen off their stride in the capital.

He added: “Ryan keeps us together and keeps the shape well.

“He helps reta in pos ses sion and wa s obviously a big loss.

“But one player going offff shouldn’t change a gamee and that’s certainly not ann excuse we can use.”

Even though Dons bosss McInnes has alreadyy didn’t do more in the game. We are trying to remain as positive as can be. We’ve five games to go and need to focus on winning them all.

“Hearts are talking about coming after us now but it’s always going to be that way.

“They are behind us chasing and we’re behind Celtic chasing them.

“That ’ s the way football goes.

“I t ’ s the same t h roughout t he league – there are teams chasing top six, others trying to get away from the relegation zone. We can only focus on us.”