McINNES SEES RED AT CANNING OVER COMPLAINTS
THE new Premiership season is merely one weekend old, but, already, the battle lines are being drawn between rival managers with Derek McInnes and Martin Canning the latest to indulge in some verbal sparring. The spat between Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and Hearts caretaker Jon Daly certainly ruled the headlines after their opening-day clash at Parkhead. Now the respective managers of Aberdeen and Hamilton have both proven to be in bullish mood, following the Dons’ 2-0 victory at Pittodrie on Sunday. The teams meet again tonight in the Betfred Cup and, ahead of the tie, McInnes revealed that he has taken umbrage at Canning’s analysis of their league meeting, in which Accies had French central defender Xavier Tomas dismissed with 30 minutes remaining. The Dons boss was also angered by his Accies counterpart’s efforts to get Graeme Shinnie sent off during the game — and Canning’s insistence that referee Euan Anderson’s decision not to red card the Aberdeen captain, booked early in the match, was down to the breaks the big clubs always seem to get against his side. ‘I had no problem at all with the physical side of it on Sunday,’ said McInnes. ‘The only issue I had was with Martin Canning being in the fourth official’s ear trying to get Graeme Shinnie sent off and then his comments afterwards. ‘He came out and said Shinnie had six fouls after being booked — but that was wrong. He had two little infringements that he was pulled up for. That was it. ‘If I was Martin, I’d be more disappointed one of his own players foolishly got sent off than trying to focus on getting one of mine red-carded. ‘I would also question his argument about Hamilton being a smaller team and not getting decisions against us because we are a bigger club. ‘Last season, Hamilton got a penalty here which wasn’t a penalty and they scored from it. ‘They had another penalty which shouldn’t have been given down there and they scored from that, too, and won the game. ‘So I kind of think that quashes what he’s trying to say.’ Despite McInnes’ outburst, Nicky Maynard says he is a lot more laid back than when the striker worked under him at Bristol City. The Dons summer signing said: ‘He’s a lot more chilled-out now, but he’s been around to know what the demands are. ‘He’s done very well at Aberdeen and it shows with the players he’s brought in and the way he’s got the team playing.’