Logan looks for disciplined Dons to halt Riga backlash
SHAY LOGAN is a damant Aberdeen won’t let their guard down in Riga next week, even if the Dons are all but assured of qualifying following their 5-0 victory at Pittodrie on Thursday night.
They can prepare for a tie against Dutch side Groningen in the second round of Europa League qualifying — the only fear is a repeat of the overly physical approach Latvian side FK Daugava adopted in that first leg.
Peter Pawlett was the only injury victim of the visitors’ brutal tactics, which saw two of their players sent off plus seven yellow-carded.
Daugava even had one of their backroom staff sent to the stand and the worry for manager Derek McInnes must be how they will respond in the second leg.
Aberdeen players kept their cool under extreme provocation and Logan admits it will take a similarly stoic attitude i n Riga to see this troublesome tie out.
‘They know they probably won’t go through but we are in their back yard and anything can happen,’ said Thursday night’s opening goalscorer.
‘We have to go there with the same mentality and 100-per- cent discipline like in the first game. I thought the referee handled it very well but after our second goal went in their heads dropped and it was really difficult for them.
‘Then when they got the first man sent off t he heads dropped again and, after that, they were clutching at straws.
‘Some of the fouls were stupid. It was a lack of discipline but we kept 11 men on the pitch and we kept a clean sheet to take across there.’
Pawlett was forced to go off with an ankle i njury and McInnes is expected t o use tomorrow’s friendly at Peterhead to give some fringe players a run out with a view to playing some in the tie in Latvia.