McNulty makes peace as bottom half beckons
DESPITE a well-earned 1-0 new firm victory and all-round positive team performance, there was still a palpable tinge of disappointment at Tannadice after Saturday’s final whistle.
It was not the devastation felt by the St Mirren camp who were minutes away from their first top-six finish. But with only one point separating themselves from St Johnstone in sixth there was still a sense of a missed opportunity.
United’s first season back in the Premiership has not always been rosy, but after a sticky festive period, performances in the past two months have shown the steady progression that manager Micky Mellon assured supporters would steer them clear of relegation.
“It’s a very satisfying [win], but a bit disappointing at the same time to not be in the top six,” said United forward Marc McNulty. “The squad, I know we have just come up, but it’s a good enough squad to be in the top six. It’s disappointing that we’ve not made that.”
Before this game, in 180 minutes of football between the sides there had been no goals. The first half very much followed that trend, aside from a Dean Campbell effort that was deflected on to the post and a Jonny Hayes drive tipped around the upright.
But the home side started the second half far brighter and scored the game’s only goal in the 61st minute. Jeando Fuchs’ industry kept a ball alive that Jack McKenzie looked to have ushered behind, then good interplay between Ian Harkes and Lawrence Shankland worked the ball into the area where Adrain Sporle was on hand to sweep the ball home with his right foot. It was a goal born out of hard work and the refusal to accept a phase of play was dead.
It delighted Micky Mellon who had roared on his front three to chase down every ball the Dons distributed from the back.
“That’s the way the manager wants to play,” McNulty said. “I’m sure you hear him from the sidelines egging us on to chase that ball. It’s good for us I suppose if we win it high up the pitch. It’s a good way of playing and the manager works on it in training every day.”
There were notable differences in Aberdeen’s approach play and the change of shape from a back three to four was long overdue, but their torrid run of form continued. Familiar problems of poor finishing and even worse chance creation showed why this side have scored only one goal in 10 matches.
Andy Considine was encouraged however, with his side showing some signs of evolution following the departure of Derek McInnes. But finishing third would seem to be beyond Aberdeen, who trail Hibs by six points with five games left.
“I thought we played well, we’ve been working for the last two weeks on our pressing game and building from the back through the thirds,” he said. “I thought every one of us bought into it and we beat their press many a time.
“It’s going to be very hard to finish third now, but anything can happen in football.”