AWARDS SNUB IS A SURPRISE FOR ABERDEEN BOSS McINNES
Mcinnes surprised by snub
PERHAPS their star has waned just a little of late after their Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to St Johnstone. But that did not prevent Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes admitting his surprise that his side’s sterling work this season was snubbed in the nominations for the PFA Scotland awards.
The likes of Russell Anderson, Peter Pawlett and Willo Flood have impressed this term as the Dons finally ended their 19-year trophy drought, but none was among the contenders for Players’ Player of the Year.
Kris Boyd joined Celtic trio Kris
“I have a high opinion of my squad”
Commons, Fraser Forster and Virgil van Dijk on the main list, while St Johnstone striker Stevie May made up the young players’ list with Dundee United’s Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Gauld and Andy Robertson.
Aberdeen players have League Cup winners’ medals and the chance to secure second place in the Scottish Premiership — and McInnes feels that is their focus.
When asked about the omission, the Dons boss said: ‘Surprised? Yes. I think there’s a couple of our players would have run close and I’m surprised about one or two that have been mentioned. But it’s the players that vote for it and there is nothing you can do.
‘I have a high opinion of my squad and a f ew players in particular have stood out.
‘It’s disappointing but in the big scheme of things, it’s not about personal glory, it’s always about trying to achieve things together. I don’t think there will be too many di s a ppointed, we are j ust concentrating on the job in hand.’
The pain is slowly beginning to subside after last Sunday’s defeat at Ibrox. Yet, McInnes admits he has never seen his side quite so low in the aftermath.
The Dons had been a goal to the good, courtesy of a first-half strike from Niall McGinn, only to see the Perth men storm back to book a final spot through a May double.
Despite t heir success t his season, it was a bitter pill to swallow for the men from the north-east.
Tonight, however, offers the opportunity for the Dons to shake off their semi-final sorrow as they travel to Inverness looking to strengthen their grip on second place in the table.
It’s perhaps somewhat ironic that they face the Highlanders, the side who they overcame at Celtic Park in a tense penalty shoot-out last month.
After all, they understand more than most their current anguish.
But there will be no room for sentiment or sympathy tonight. There is too much at stake.
‘We can’t affect what’s happened but we can affect what’s in front of us,’ said a determined McInnes yesterday.
‘In the early part of the week, you don’t feel great about yourself, just like the fans, but after a couple of days it starts to go a wee bit.
‘You can’t dwell on that, you have to concentrate on the next task. We won’t roll over and feel sorry for ourselves. You have got to get up and keep fighting away.
‘We’re out of the cup now, so we have to focus on second place in the league.
‘That might not have been the aim at the start of the season because you never know how things are going to be.
‘But with the way we’ve played and with five games to go, that’s there for us to achieve.’
Dons midfielder Willo Flood is, of course, in agreement with his boss.
That a slip back to third spot would mean an earlier return to competitive action — on July 3 — and therefore the loss of an extra two weeks’ holiday i s simply another motivating factor.
‘We have played a lot of football, with t he t wo cup r uns, so hopefully we can get into second, confirm Europe and get some good family time over the summer,’ said Flood.
‘I’m doing my A-licence at the end of the season, so I might have to ask for some time off.
‘That’s May 18-26 and I’m moving house, too, so it won’t be much of a summer if we get into Europe and are back really early.
‘ That’s why we have to lift ourselves after the semi- final defeat — there’s no point in feeling sorry for yourself.
‘For us, it’s all about the league now and we want to get a win over Inverness.
‘Bringing European football back to Aberdeen would be massive, as i t’s been a while. It’s a huge incentive for us between now and the end of the season.’
Inverness manager John Hughes, meanwhile, believes his side must be wary of a Dons backlash this evening.
He said: ‘ Aberdeen are a good team. Derek McInnes has assembled a right good squad, with a nice balance.
‘He has experience and youth and now has a recognised goalscorer in Adam Rooney.
‘They will be hurting. We’ve just had the experience of losing a cup final, so we know all about it.
‘They will be hurting similarly after St Johnstone came back to beat them in the semi-final.
‘ You are always wary of the wounded animal, that’s what I’m saying.
‘But if the games are anything l i ke they have been between t he t wo s i des this season then we’re hopeful it should be a cracker.’
After grappling with 14 games in seven weeks, the Highlanders enjoyed a welcome fortnight’s respite after beating Ross County in the derby.
The break has recharged the batteries and, it seems, re-focused energies on a post-split push for European places.
‘It was important we got that break,’ Hughes continued. ‘There was fatigue, we were carrying knocks, injuries.
‘We were asking boys to keep going back to the well. Everyone has cleared up now apart from Richie Foran. It’s all to play for.
‘I’m absolutely delighted with the season we’ve had. We’ve almost reached the points total of last year already, going into the split.
‘We’ve got a focus to go and try to win that European spot.
‘It’s a massive prize for us to play for. If we get it, then it would be the first time in the club’s history.
‘I’m pleased with the success of the season.’