Blank day shows Dons need man to replace Sam
Aberdeen boss Derek Mcinnes has called on the club to calm their anxious fans by finding a striker over the next 48 hours.
The Dons sold Sam Cosgrove to Birmingham City in a £ 2- million deal and are desperate for a replacement.
Their pressing need for a centre- for ward was clear for all to see in yesterday’s 0- 0 draw at Livingston as chances were passed up by a number of players.
Mcinnes hopes to see a new recruit arriving at Pittodrie, but isn’t supremely confident that it will happen.
He said: “We ’ r e searching for that bit of quality.
“The team needs help at the top end of the pitch.
“My players need it, we need it as a staff and our supporters need to see us being strong over the next couple of days and getting a player or two in.
“I thought we had some gilt- edged chances against Livingston.
“Since the Ross County game, that’s our third clean sheet in a row so a lot about the team is right.
“We’r e competing and there’s a lot of effort getting put in, but it’s difficult playing without a recognised number nine sometimes.
“I thought young Connor Mclennan had good moments in the game a n d we re a l l y countered well.”
In the end, money talks when it comes to signing proven strikers.
Few clubs in Scotland have the funds to purchase players, so it would be a loan move Aberdeen are looking at.
Many English clubs, of course, have cash to burn and that’s why Cosgrove is now preparing for life in the Championship.
Mcinnes added: “The January window is traditionally so hard to bring number nines in.
“Unless y o u’re spending money like Birmingham City going for big Sam, you very rarely get what you want.
“We’ve ran up a few cul-de-sacs chasing players.
“On Friday I spent more time concentrating on that than I was on the game.
“We knew there was a chance Sam could have gone and we’re scrambling around trying to deal with it.
“I’m hopeful but we need help.”
A transfer fee is out of the question but Mcinnes hopes chairman Dave Cormack will find money for a loan-fee and wages.
There was a rather cr yptic answer when Mcinnes was asked if failing to beat Livingston meant his side had missed the chance to get closer to second- placed Celtic.
He said: “We need to fight with ourselves.
“We’re only looking at ourselves, not Hibs or Celtic.”