Mackay-Steven believes Dons can get better of Dyche and his £51m men
IT began with hysterical assertions from English media outlets that Scottish football had hit a new low following Adam Rooney’s departure from Aberdeen to non-league Salford City. By the end of the week, however, Scotland’s Premiership clubs had answered their critics by recording the country’s most promising set of European results in a decade. On Wednesday night, Celtic swatted aside Norwegians Rosenborg 3-1 in a Champions League qualifier at Parkhead. Steven Gerrard then steered Rangers to a first away win in Europe in ten years with a 1-0 triumph over Osijek in Croatia. At Easter Road, Hibs showed great character in roaring back from two goals down to beat Asteras Tripolis of Greece 3-2. And Aberdeen drew 1-1 at Pittodrie with a Burnley side that took £51million in transfer fees to assemble. All a far cry from the humiliations Scottish clubs have endured in recent years against teams from the likes of Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Iceland and Malta. Dons winger Gary Mackay-Steven, scorer of a first-half penalty against Sean Dyche’s high fliers, insists it could get even better for Scottish football next week. The former Dundee United and Celtic man believes Derek McInnes’ Aberdeen are capable of sending out a message at Turf Moor by taking the scalp of a team that finished seventh in the English Premier League last season. ‘Can we go down there and win? For sure, why not?’ he said. ‘It will be tough, but we proved on Thursday that we can score and create chances against Burnley. That’s what we need to do again. There is every chance for us. ‘Burnley are a good team and they are good on the ball, but there are a lot of good teams up here in Scotland, as well. ‘We didn’t feel inferior to them. We gave them respect, like we do with every team. But once we play football, we can cause most teams problems. ‘We didn’t focus on outside critics or whether or not they need to be silenced. ‘We just wanted to showcase our football and give a good account of ourselves and I feel we did that. We have to go down there and show the same confidence next week.’
The loss of last year’s top scorer Rooney to big-spending English fifth-tier side Salford has been picked over all week. For Mackay-Steven, however, the only thing that really mattered when it came to the departed Irishman was who would replace him as penalty-taker. The 27-year-old staked a claim for the job by calmly rolling a first-half spot-kick past Anders Lindegaard before Sam Vokes took some of the shine off Aberdeen’s evening by equalising ten minutes from time. ‘Adam Rooney was our penalty-taker, but since he’s gone, that position has been open,’ said Mackay-Steven. ‘It was up in the air. We hadn’t really discussed who would take the penalties. There are a lot of confident boys willing to step up, but I just wanted it and I got to the ball first. I wasn’t really nervous at all. I was pleased to score and I would take the next one now, definitely. ‘I have made a claim, so, hopefully, I will remain on penalties. ‘I enjoyed the game. It was a great atmosphere and it is brilliant to play in these occasions in front of a full house and under the floodlights. ‘I just need to keep doing what I am doing — starting again next week at Turf Moor.’ Mackay-Steven was mightily impressed by midfielder Lewis Ferguson on his competitive debut for the Dons. A summer signing from Hamilton Accies, the 18-year-old handled the step up to face English Premier League opposition impeccably. The winger also had praise for striker Sam Cosgrove, who is yet to score for Aberdeen but caused Burnley all manner of problems with his physical presence and work-rate. ‘Lewis is a great prospect,’ said Mackay-Steven. ‘He is so young but, physically, he is really strong. He has great footballing intelligence. ‘It was a big game but he handled it so well and certainly has a bright future ahead of him. ‘Sam has done great for us since he got into the team at the end of last season. ‘He can worry any defence with his physicality and style. He also has pace and he can run in behind defences.’ Last night there was bad news, however, when Mark Reynolds was ruled out for the rest of the year after having surgery on a knee injury. ‘We’re going to be without him for the next six or seven months, so it’s a huge blow,’ said McInnes. ‘Knowing the character Mark has, we’re hoping his rehabilitation will be as straightforward as possible.’