The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Shinnie wants Aberdeen to show more fight
Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie called for more fight in his team after accepting their form had not been up to scratch even before their Betfred Cup exit in Thursday’s 3-0 defeat at Motherwell.
Aberdeen won their opening four Ladbrokes Premiership games and sit second, but successive draws against Hearts and Kilmarnock rang alarm bells for the midfielder.
And, after manager Derek McInnes claimed his team lacked “aggression and intent” against a relentless Motherwell, Shinnie accepted that vast improvement was needed for tomorrow’s league encounter at Fir Park.
Shinnie told Red TV: “Simply not good enough, from myself right throughout the team. We have not been good enough in the last few games and we need to have a good look at ourselves.
“We need to get back to form. We have done all right league-wise to pick up points, but performance-wise I don’t think it’s been good enough and we need to sort that out for Sunday.
“It’s two days to recover but it’s two days of hard work to sort things out and take them on on Sunday and perform better.
“The quality is always there but I think we need to fight a wee bit more, fight for each other, work as a team a wee bit more, then the quality shines through after that.”
McInnes described Motherwell’s play as “simplistic” but added that they were good at what they did after Louis Moult struck twice either side of Peter Hartley’s header, although Dons goalkeeper Joe Lewis made some uncharacteristic errors.
Another trip to Motherwell is probably the last thing McInnes wanted after the match, but he realises it gives his players a shot at redemption.
“I know the players,” he said. “Some have just signed, but I have known a lot of them a lot longer, and I know how they will be hurting.”
Greg Tansey could feature despite a groin injury, but Craig Storie (hamstring) and Danny Harvie (knee) remain unavailable.