Lewis wants Dons on front foot

AFTER drawing blanks in four of their last five matches, the absence of a creative spark in Aberdeen’s play is becoming glaringly obvious. Remedying that issue is now a prime priority for manager Derek McInnes. Speaking after a turgid stalemate on Killie’s plastic pitch, he insisted that no one in his dressing room should view the point gained as any kind of positive outcome. He wants and expects more. Captain Joe Lewis was in full agreement. Indeed, the goalkeeper believes time may be running out before McInnes decides to ring the changes in a bid to pep up the Pittodrie side. ‘We needed to have more urgency and be more on the front foot,’ reflected Lewis. ‘We should’ve been more proactive, rather than reactive. We were waiting for things to happen and if you do that on a dry surface against a team who are working hard to get behind the ball, you are not going to create chances or score goals. ‘We were comfortable against a very good striker in Eamonn Brophy. We did well on that side of things and a positive is our first clean sheet in the league. ‘Going forward we needed a bit more responsibility because were a bit hopeful really, rather than taking the game by the scruff of the neck and making things happen. ‘It’s something we need to take on board quickly. There are lads on the bench who could do that.’ After failing to score in both legs of their Europa League exit against Rijeka and in a top-flight defeat to St Mirren, Aberdeen’s only goals since August 4 have come in an extra-time Betfred Cup success against Dundee. Lewis didn’t seek excuses for another underwhelming show, but felt the new artificial surface at Rugby Park wasn’t much help on a warm day. ‘We could have done with the torrential rain we had when we played at St Mirren,’ he added. ‘When conditions are warm and dry, it slows the game down and it’s difficult to play the free-flowing stuff. ‘You need to have better anticipation about where the ball is landing. We didn’t do that and nor did they and that’s why it ended up 0-0. ‘Hopefully, we’re not far away from a better performance and a more free-flowing and attacking display.’