The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
McInnes: No time to panic
AFC: Dons boss points to previous seasons as evidence slow start no cause for alarm
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists there is no cause for alarm after watching his players make a sluggish start to the season.
The Dons recorded their third draw of the season on Saturday after hitting back from behind to earn a point at St Johnstone thanks to Niall McGinn’s equaliser, with the result taking the Reds’ tally to six points from five matches.
The slow start has left the Dons eighth in the Premiership but McInnes has pointed to the fact his side has been in the same situation in two of his previous campaigns and believes results will improve as the injuries begin to clear.
He said: “The players have been working away but we’ve not been able to find a rhythm. We’ve had three draws which, if you take them in isolation, are fine. A draw with Rangers and away draws at Easter Road and McDiarmid Park are fine but when you put them in a sequence of five games it changes the perception.
“For us, our focus is on winning games and getting a settled team on the park but we’re relaxed about the situation. We’re in the same position in terms of points after five games as we’ve been in two of the previous five seasons.
“This is not anything new as we’ve had to contend with Europe and settling new players in.We’ve had one bad result in isolation after playing 85 minutes with 10 men.
“We know it is important we start winning. We’re getting a few more back so we know we will pick up more points than we have done.”
The return of two key players has lightened the mood at Pittodrie, with defender Mikey Devlin available after suspension, while Manchester United’s loanee James Wilson is in contention to make his first start against Motherwell on Saturday.
McInnes said: “Having Devlin and Wilson back is a step in the right direction. It’s no secret we’ve struggled defensively and we’ve not been able to play the same back four from one game to the next.
“Having James back is important as he is a key player for us and we’re keen to get him up and running as quickly as possible.
“Lewis Ferguson has had a scan and seen a specialist. As expected there is a little bit of fluid on the knee but we hope it will settle down quickly, although it’s touch and go whether he will be available this weekend.” Former Aberdeen midfielder Barry Robson insists he is ready to take his first step into management after being linked with the Raith Rovers post.
The 39-year-old, who is part of Derek McInnes’s backroom team at Aberdeen, faces competition from clubmate, Dons reserve team coach Paul Sheerin, former Morton manager Jim Duffy and ex-Kilmarnock boss Lee Clark for the post.
Robson, who has been a coach at Aberdeen since retiring from playing in summer 2016, believes he has the coaching experience to become a manager in his own right.
He said: “I think I could do it now but I’m trying to get the Pro Licence and other things sorted.
“I’ve learned a lot and will be ready to take on that challenge soon.”