Dons sprinkle a touch of magic
DEREK McINNES last night admitted Aberdeen turned the taps on to give Partick a Scottish Cup soaking. The Dons boss ordered his groundsman to have the sprinklers on full pelt in a pre-match bid to get some pace into a poor Pittodrie pitch. McInnes, left, was pleased at being paired with Hibs for next month’s last-four showdown after Graeme Shinnie’s first-half strike saw off shot-shy Thistle in a 1-0 win.
The manager said: “It has been raining heavily here
but our pitch dries out really quickly. There is not too much grass on it so we tried to make best of it, to get some pace into it.
“We wanted pace in the game – that’s why we played Peter Pawlett, Niall McGinn and Jonny Hayes. We didn’t want it slow and predictable.
“We wanted it open with pace but the conditions don’t always allow that.
“Our movement did that for us. We moved them around a lot, their big central defenders. We were energetic.
“It was hard-fought but we expected it to be tough. Our attacking play was more prominent and we deserved to win the game.
“The first goal was always going to be important against a team who don’t lose too many goals. We deserved to be in front.
“Our keeper didn’t have a save to make but you can see how Partick Thistle have been getting results. They’re tough to play against.”
Jags boss Alan Archibald admitted his side only have themselves to blame for their meek exit and insists too many of his players were off the boil.
He said: ‘We didn’t deserve it. We have to pass the ball better, it wasn’t tidy and too many of our deliveries were poor.
“I thought we started well enough, we were the better side for the first five or 10 minutes but fell out of the game after that.
“Aberdeen came on strong and we were a bit jaded. It was one game too many for some of our players. We were pushing late on but have to take our chances.
“Aberdeen used Adam Rooney very well up front. Their goal comes from a ball to Jayden Stockley, and they used the second ball well. It’s disappointing. We’re fully focused on the league now.”
Thistle had Danny Devine sent off for a second booking in injury-time and Archibald had no argument on the call.
He said: “It’s a foul by Danny, although it might have been handball before that. I have no complaints about the sending off.”