McInnes has Ferguson to thank for win
ABERDEEN manager Derek McInnes lavished praise on Lewis Ferguson after the midfielder returned from a two-game suspension to gun down his former club last night.
The 20-year-old added bite and guile to a Dons side facing serious questions after their four-goal thrashing by Celtic on Sunday.
After Ferguson claimed the only goal of the game with a well-worked free-kick in the first half, McInnes said: ‘He can do everything, whatever you ask of him. The first game we played against Burnley, we had him and (Graeme) Shinnie playing off Sam Cosgrove and I still think that’s where I see him.
‘Lewis had the desire to get up and down the pitch, like Shinnie. We were hoping for that from him and (Craig) Bryson today.
‘Fergie has been a huge player for me and it’s great to have him available. He plays on that edge sometimes with the aggression that I need from my players.
‘Sunday was very sore for us all but I was pleased with the game coming so quickly. It was all about trying to focus the players — we knew we had to get momentum. We’re a long way off the Old Firm at the minute but I still feel we can be a very competitive team and win games.’
You had to feel something for Accies manager Brian Rice, though. As ever, his players’ endeavour was beyond reproach. How dearly one momentary defensive lapse cost them.
Given how woeful Sunday’s display was, there was a degree of surprise that McInnes only made three changes. Bryson, Ryan Hedges and Ferguson stepped in with Mikey Devlin, Connor McLennan and Jon Gallagher the fall guys.
Largely playing on the counterattack, the Dons did serve notice of what was to come with a slick exchange between Hedges and Niall McGinn allowing the Northern Irishman to pick out the darting Cosgrove. The striker couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet and the chance was lost.
As a side which lives and dies by its set-pieces, Accies were furious at how easily they were picked off at the opener.
Taking control of a dead-ball situation 20 yards out and left of centre, Hedges had little trouble in feeding Ferguson after the central midfielder had made a late dart into space. Still with much work to do, a perfect first touch set him up for an explosive finish.
Cosgrove’s hopes of finding a second were twice snuffed out by blocks by Sam Stubbs, with Hedges also denied by Scott Martin.
Hamilton created chances of their own, with Lewis Smith being denied by Joe Lewis before Ross Cunningham sent his effort inches wide from 15 yards.
For all that, the Dons could easily have been two-up at the interval. McGinn’s gem of a centre seemed meat and drink for Cosgrove but he failed to find the right connection from within the six-yard box.
On the stroke of half-time, McGinn saw his dipping effort come back off the bar. If the winger had reason to curse his luck then, he only had himself to blame early in the second half when he missed the gaping target after Ferguson’s shot was spilled by Owain Fon Williams.
What a messy affair the second period proved to be. Cosgrove came closest to providing a goal, his header from Shay Logan’s cross coming back off the upright.
Accies boss Rice was left to lament his side’s lack of cutting edge as they racked up a fourth game without a win.
‘It is disappointing to lose a goal from a set-play,’ admitted the Accies manager. ‘We were always in the game. We had a young team who hadn’t played together. They showed they are maturing but we are disappointed to lose.’