Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Saints back in their stride as they punish a dismal Dons display
ABERDEEN interim boss Neil Warnock admits he cannot be confident his side will avoid being drawn into a cinch Premiership relegation battle if they continue to concede “stupid” goals.
Warnock is still without a victory in five league matches in charge – with Aberdeen winless in nine in total – and the Dons fell behind to a first-half Nicky Clark penalty after Richard Jensen’s handball.
Benjamin Kimpioka added a second late in the game and the Dons fans turned on their side and the clubs’ board.
Warnock said of their anger: “You understand that. They see the goals we’re conceding. We’ve had some good chances tonight, couldn’t score and we lose sloppy goals.
“It’s disheartening. The lads have to stop feeling sorry for themselves and we’ve got to get on with it. I’ve never experienced anything like it.
“Looking at the goals we’re conceding, do you see us winning another game? I can’t remember having a team concede goals like we are.
“You can’t legislate for the goals we’re conceding. We have quality, but we still concede stupid goals.
“When you look at those goals, I don’t think anybody could be confident (of escaping a relegation battle).
“It needs some experience here to look at what we’ve got and find a way to get something out of the games we have coming up.”
Saints boss Craig Levein hailed the character his side showed in bouncing back from a poor performance at St Mirren at the weekend, to add to Aberdeen’s misery.
He said: “On Saturday, we didn’t turn up ready to fight, which gave the opposition the advantage.
“The big question today was whether we could go out and deliver what we didn’t last week and I’m so proud of the performance.
“We stood up to be counted in every single area of the pitch.
“It was a real team performance and a real fillip for us.
“We recognised that, at Aberdeen, the expectations are high and, if the players and team don’t achieve what the supporters are looking for, it can be quite tough.
“I’m only focusing on Saturday now and we’ll need to bring that type of performance.
“If we do, we’ll have a chance of taking something from the game.”