McInnes not unduly concerned after successive draws for Dons

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes refused to panic after watching his side draw a second successive game.

The Dons are still unbeaten domestically after the 1-1 home stalemate with Kilmarnock and now lie just two points off the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership table.

McInnes said: “We’re well into September so to say the team is still gelling doesn’t have the same weight behind it.

“We’re unbeaten and second-top of the league so we’re not going to get too concerned. I feel that we’re capable of so much more and it’s important that we all work hard to find that form.”

The Dons travel to Motherwell on Betfred Cup duty on Thursday night, before facing the same trip on Sunday in the league – and McInnes anticipates a tough challenge from Stephen Robinson’s men.

He continued: “We’ve got a double-header now with Motherwell, who are in good form and are finding goals easy to come by.

“They know what they are and they’ve got an identity to what they do so it’ll be a tough game down there on Thursday.

“It’s an opportunity for both teams to get to a semi-final and when it comes round I’m sure both teams will fancy their chances.”

Killie’s equaliser at Pittodrie came from winger Jordan Jones, and manager Lee McCulloch believes the former Northern Ireland Under-19 winger can force his way into the international reckoning ahead of next year’s World Cup.

McCulloch said: “He’s already been on stand-by for his country and he’s got potential to go to the World Cup. He didn’t start last week but if he keeps playing as he did today then this club won’t be able to keep him, that’s for sure.”

The former Middlesbrough winger went off in the closing stages with what looked like a muscular injury but McCulloch has no concerns over the player’s fitness.

● Hearts were made to fight all the way as they claimed their first win since Craig Levein’s return as boss with a 2-1 triumph at Hamilton’s SuperSeal Stadium.

The Jambos looked to be firmly in control after former Raith Rovers captain Ross Callachan’s early strike was followed up by Kyle Lafferty’s penalty midway through the opening period.

But, when Rakish Bingham pulled one back for Accies, Hearts began to unravel and were glad to eventually hear the full-time whistle.