Whatever Derek said, it sure did the trick
His side started dismally but fought back to earn a draw. But Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes insisted he did not have to tear into his players to elicit their vastly improved second half showing. Saints controlled the first half at McDiarmid Park and took a deserved lead through David McMillan. The Perth side seemed to be in cruise control. Yet Aberdeen emerged for the second half a team transformed and claimed a share of the spoils thanks to a fantastic Niall McGinn free-kick. McInnes declared himself satisfied with a point – and with his side’s second-half showing. But he insisted he didn’t have to resort to blowing his top to spur his players into action. “It wasn’t a case of having a go at the players – there was plenty of effort and honesty,” said the Dons boss. “But it’s about getting the job done and laying a glove on the opposition, which we didn’t do in the first half. “The second half was much better. Far more what was needed.” The first half had opened with a bang. Aberdeen striker – and former St Johnstone star – Stevie May claimed for a penalty after tumbling in the box. Fortunately for the home side, whistler Willie Collum didn’t want to know. Saints, with an attacking quartet of Tony Watt, David McMillan, Drey Wright and Matty Kennedy in their starting 11, looked hungry, and they took the lead in the 14th minute when McMillan slipped Shay Logan to bullet a header past Joe Lewis. Instead of responding, Aberdeen’s play became increasingly ponderous. Saints almost stretched their lead when wide man Wright switched on the afterburners, left Max Lowe for dead, and slipped in a neat cross, which Andy Considine headed past his own post. May was making no significant headway up front for the Dons, but the hitman did manage to get a shot on target – Aberdeen’s only one of the first half – 10 minutes before the break, which Zander Clark held easily. Derek McInnes would have been entitled to tear strips off his troops during the interval. Whatever he did, it worked. As lacklustre as the Dons were in the first-half, they were energetic and determined in the second. It was near-enough one-way traffic. McGinn himself, Gary Mackay-Steven (twice) and Sam Cosgrove all tested Saints stopper Clark as Aberdeen rallied. Then McGinn curled a delightful 20-yard free-kick past Clark to level the match. The Dons were well worth their goal – but they still looked shaky at the back. Alston split centre-half pairing Andy Considine and Scott McKenna twice on the break, the second time forcing Joe Lewis to save bravely with his chin. Both sides saw penalty claims denied, Saints when Ross Callachan jumped over Lewis rather than taking a hit that would have prompted a spot kick. Then, at the death, Gary Mackay-Steven was furious when Wotherspoon challenged him from behind in the box. But Tommy Wright was in no doubt that his side paid the price for Callachan being too honest. “His honesty means it’s not a penalty. If he’d left his foot in it would have been a stonewaller,” said the Saints boss. “But it’s a good result against a good side.”