WE WILL FINNISH THE JOB
DEREK McINNES knows RoPS’s late away goal was a Europa League body blow but is confident Aberdeen will still finish off the job in Finland.
The Dons take a slim lead to the RoPS Arena next week but that advantage
should have been a lot more convincing had they taken more of their chances and not switched off at the end.
The Dons should have been in a more commanding position after Niall McGinn and Sam Cosgrove’s goals but the manager still believes his team were the better side.
McInnes said: “I should be coming here saying it was such an assured performance for our first competitive game of the season against a team 15 games into their season.
“Our fitness and intensity were really good and the supporters got a look at the new signings, our slickness and how we want to play.
“We passed up a lot of opportunities and the last bit of polish in front of goal was missing. But if we get similar chances next week we’ll be in a better position to take them.
“The goal we lost might not have been such a body blow had we taken them but you can see RoPS are a good side.
“We worked them well and looked the better side but the goal means this wasn’t the result I was looking for.
“If we’d taken our chances we could have this wrapped up but we face a difficult game in Finland next week. But I’m confident if we take the chances we can go through.” McInnes confirmed he had made a move for Funso Ojo – although the Scunthorpe midfielder looks set to join Premiership rivals Hibs. He said: “We’ve had a few bids in for a few players. A couple have been accepted and we haven’t got the signing done but I’ve left that with my recruitment team. But apart from Jon Gallagher, which came up in our talks with Atlanta, every signing has seen us face competition.” Coach Pasi Tuutti thinks RoPS now have a real chance of pulling off a shock at home next week. He said: “We fought like hell. I have to be honest, Aberdeen were much better than us. “But Aberdeen can expect the sun being up all day and trying to sleep is not easy. We will carry the fight and every game is unique. Just look at the last goal. “Someone was tired and we took the goal. It’s why I love football. “We were not the better team but we feel we really have a chance next week.”