The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
McInnes buoyant about Burnley tie
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes was proud of the way his players pushed Burnley all the way at Pittodrie.
The English Premier League side were huge favourites to progress from the Europa League qualifier but Thursday’s 1-1 draw leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the return leg at Turf Moor next Thursday.
The Clarets remain in pole position to set up a third round qualifier against Istanbul Basaksehir thanks to their away goal, scored by Sam Vokes 10 minutes from time after a Gary Mackay-Steven penalty gave the Dons a half-time lead.
McInnes was heartened by the way his side competed with a club that received £120 million in prize and TV money last season – the Dons earned £2m.
The manager said: “We showed we are a very good team against a team that lost only six games away from home in the English Premier League last season. They are up against the best of the best.
“I was proud of the club and how we set about the game from the first minute. The fans reacted to the players and the players fed off that.
“We were disappointed we didn’t win the game for them but they have been watching the team for long enough now if we don’t win games it is not for the want of trying.”
The Dons manager does not believe the result will change the poor perception of Scottish football held by some south of the border.
He added: “I don’t really care what people think that don’t watch Scottish football a lot.
“I know we are a good team, I don’t need to convince anyone of that.
“Burnley can grow and become the animal they are because of the league they are in.
“The financial chasm is huge. We see that when Burnley have a £15 million striker (Chris Wood).
“We have a proud tradition. We are a proper club. Until TV companies and finances change we can probably only do so much. But this is a game we know we can win.”