GOOD SENSE TO THROW IT OUT SAYS JIM
JIM GOODWIN hopes “common sense” prevails at an SFA hearing over his comments about Hibs’ Ryan Porteous.
But even if the Aberdeen boss is hit by a touchline ban, he reckons his players will have enough about them to get through a packed October fixture list without him in the dugout.
The Irishman was reluctant to be drawn on being cited by the game’s governors for accusing Porteous of cheating after he won a penalty resulting in Liam Scales being sent off and missing tomorrow’s visit of Kilmarnock.
But asked if being banned would impact upon the players, he said: “I don’t think it matters a great deal.
“I can’t say a great deal about what is going on at the moment because the inquiry still needs to happen.
“But whether I am on the touchline or not, the work is all done Monday to Friday. There will be communication between myself and the other staff if need be but hopefully it does not come to that.
“Hopefully common sense prevails and I will be able to take the team.
“I am restricted to what I am allowed to say on this matter right now.
“Let’s see what the outcome is and then I will come back and give you my view. But there is not a great deal that I can say.”
Goodwin, whose side play five league games and a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Partick Thistle in October, reckons the month could be pivotal in the context of a season that has started brightly, laced with frustration a lot of good football has only gained his Dons three wins, a draw and three defeats in the Premiership.
He added: “The league is extremely tight.
“One win can catapult teams near the bottom right back up into the mix again at third or fourth.
“You saw that the other weekend when we were sitting third prior to the Hibs game. Then teams around you win games and, all of a sudden, you drop a few places.
“I tend not to take too much notice of the league table until that first round of fixtures.
“I think you get a better understanding of how the league will pan out after that particular period.
“It is a busy month for everyone. The squad is going to be stretched as there are a lot of midweek games in there with the games on a Saturday and Sunday as well.
“That’s the way you want it as a player and a manager. You like to have games coming thick and fast – and we will be well prepared for it.
“We are not looking to make excuses but we are probably two or three points, at least, light on where we should be.
“We know we are a decent side when we are at it, on our game.
“We are capable of beating anyone but we have to get to that level of consistency.”