Dons aiming to be pitch perfect for Viking battle
● Mcinnes says his players are used to artificial surfaces ahead of Norway test
Aberdeen are confident that then umbero far ti ficial surfaces at Scottish topflight grounds will make life easier for them when they face Viking Stavanger FK in Norway tonight.
D ons manager Derek Mcinnes believes that the frequency with which Premiership clubs have to play on plastic pitches means that he and his players have grown used to adapting their playing style to accommodate the different underfoot conditions.
And he says tonight’s stage is likely to be of superior quality than some of those his men perform on at home.
“It looks a good surface for astro turf ,” saidMc Inn es. “Ronny Hernandez [the Aberdeen defender who joined the club in the summer following three years playing in Norway] thinks it’ s one of the better ones. We trained on our astroturf at Cormack Park on Tuesday and Ronny said the surface we are playing on tonight will be superior. He thinks we won’ t have any complaints with it.
“We are used to playing on astro pitches. It’s something we mention all the time at home. There’ s a quarter of the league now operate on astroturf and we’ve had some decent results. Some games have been battle sand I can think of many games at Kilmarnock and Livingston where we have just had to go and grind out a result. But there have also bee np laces like Hamilton and Falkirk where we have enjoyed playing and the boys have enjoyed the surface.
“The surface can make it a wee bit more difficult to play a possession game and you need to fight fire with fire and we have done that but we have played on some of the better astro surfaces and enjoyed it and knocked it about.
“Ideally, we would all want to play on grass but we have no issues with this game.”
The evening kick-off should see some dampness in the air and provide extra slickness to the surface.
“A bit of dew always helps an artificial pitch ,” added Mcinnes. “The ball runs quickera cross it and it helps. So, tactically, it is more about the opponent than the pitch but there have been times when we have decided to play a certain way.”
The feeling of familiarity extends beyond the pitch, with Norwegian sides renowned for a British style of play. Viking FK are no different according to Mcinnes’ research.
“From what we’ve seen of them they play 4-3-3 with a good blend of youngsters and experienced internationals,” he said. “They just sold their young left-back [Adrian] Pereira at the weekend there but they like to rotate in the middle of the park and they have goals in them. They have players at the top end of the pitch we need to be mindful of.
“But it’s the type of opponent we can face domestically as well. We have a tough game on our hands but I genuinely feel if we play to our capabilities it is a tie we can win.”
Having overcome Runavik 6-0 in the previous round and in decent form domestically, they head into the most recent test in a positive frame of mind and in decent shape.
Ross Mccrorie, one of the Aberdeen stars rival boss Bjarne Berntsen is wary of, has been deemed fit enough for selection. There are, though, still “one or two causing a wee bit of concern”, according to Mcinnes, who travelled with a squad of 22 in the hope he can
absorb any niggling injuries or any late coronavirus setbacks, should the tests taken on arrival in Norway come back positive ahead of the game.
Preparing himself for the possibility of an open game as both sides embrace the one-legged nature of a tie that leaves little margin for error, Mcinnes says his men have to be ready for whatever their hosts throw at them.
“Viking are 17 games into their league so they still have that bit of an advantage. However it is not what it could have been had it been earlier ,” he said .“We feel a bit closer to where we will get to once the season is up and running properly and we are in good form and looking for ward to the game.
“I think it will be a tough match as the fact it is away from home and on astroturf is not ideal. However for me it is two teams with the motivation for the next round to take on Sporting Lisbon which is what we want.”
That carrot is a significant
one. B erntsen has spoken of Aberdeen as a side who would be challenging for the title if they played in the Norwegian league and he has hailed the Dons as “solid, hard working, good on the ball”.
But, with belief in his side’s counter-attacking ability, the Norwegian boss admits the game is finely balanced.
“Aberdeen are stronger and more physical than us, but I think my players are faster. We need to see how that works out.”
Mcinnes is backing his men, though, and, while taking nothing for granted, is already projecting thoughts for ward to next week.
“Hopefully this time next week we are in Portugal pre - paring for the game,” he said.
“I think we must use them as motivation. Players will do a lot in their career but to take on a team of that magnitude and in that environment – even if it’s not in front of a crowd – is something we all want to experience. But first things first we will deal with this game.”