By JOHN McGARRY I haven’t been thinking what the SFA will do. Whatever happens, we will have to take it on the chin and move on
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FOR Aberdeen, even the prospect of another European adventure beginning against NSI Runavik on Thursday won’t be enough to shift the sense of foreboding that will hang over Pittodrie this week.
The following day sees the so-called Aberdeen Eight learn their fates following an SFA disciplinary hearing. With possible sanctions ranging from two to eight-game bans, the Dons can only hope for a degree of leniency.
Although two of those involved — Sam Cosgrove and Mikey Devlin — are currently injured, there is no question that the potential absences of the others — Jonny Hayes, Scott McKenna, Craig Bryson, Bruce Anderson, Dylan McGeouch and Matty Kennedy — could be deeply damaging to their campaign.
With a schedule showing Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Motherwell either side of the international break, Derek McInnes’ men face one side who have hit the straps immediately in this campaign and two who are desperately struggling to get going.
Irrespective of who is and isn’t available, though, the last thing the Dons manager can entertain is ready-made excuses. Although they have already had more than their fair share of injuries this season, back-to-back wins against St Johnstone and Livingston have demonstrated that they have the squad to cope.
‘Personally, I haven’t been thinking what the SFA will do,’ insisted midfielder Lewis Ferguson. ‘Whatever happens, we will need to take it on the chin and move on.
‘I still feel we have a good enough squad and a group of players who are capable of going and doing a job and getting another three points next week after the Europa League game.
‘Whatever is coming, the boys will take it on the chin and move on.’
Regardless of the outcome of the hearing, Aberdeen will just be glad that it’s over. The consequences of an ill-advised group visit to a restaurant cost them two postponements and engulfed them in negativity. It was the last thing a city recently put into lockdown needed.
Even the likes of Ferguson — sitting in his apartment on the night in question — somehow got dragged into the mess after wrongly being accused on social media of being at the heart of it all.
‘I wasn’t there but I was getting stick,’ he shrugged. ‘I tried to stay off social media. I knew and the people close to me knew it wasn’t me that was involved, so I was okay with that. ‘The boys were always going to come out and talk and apologise, so it was clear to the players who were involved, but we have all moved on. ‘It is in the past and we are looking forward to the next game and we can get back to our best over the next few games.’ McInnes and his players deserve no little credit from putting the regrettable episode to one side to take six points from St Johnstone and Livingston. With depleted resources almost certainly an issue for the manager in the coming weeks, the banking of two wins felt significant. ‘It has been tough,’ Ferguson added. ‘We’ve been up against two teams who make it hard but I still don’t think we are at our best or our sharpest. ‘That is going to take another few games with everything that has been going on. ‘We haven’t really got going yet but we have had good spells in both those games. I think that sharpness and combination play will come more often when we get more minutes into the legs and more time with each other training.
‘It has been stop-start with everything that has been going on but, six out of six — you can’t ask for more when you are not at your best.’
No one contributed more to the victory than Ferguson. He won and converted the spot-kick which edged the Dons ahead then defended like his life depended on it.
‘I have been practising my penalties since Cosgrove got injured,’ he explained. ‘I had to switch what way I was going because I have hit a few penalties against Robby McCrorie in training with Scotland’s Under-21s.
‘I thought he might have gambled but he waited until I had hit it and thankfully he was never saving it.’
Marley Watkins, who arrived on loan from Bristol City last week, didn’t score on his debut but did enough to suggest he’ll make a decent fist of deputising for the injured Cosgrove and Ryan Edmondson.
‘He was decent,’ added Ferguson. ‘I have watched him before and been impressed. He had only trained once before the game and I thought he did really well.
‘He has pace and can run in behind or can come to feet and, on another day, he could have scored but the keeper made a couple of fabulous saves. With the likes of Curtis (Main), Bruce and Cosgrove coming back, we will have good options up there.’
Scott Wright also caught the eye in Sunday’s 2-1 win, a superb exchange with Ryan Hedges opening up the Livvy defence as he slotted home the second.
‘I am delighted for Scott,’ said Ferguson. ‘He has worked as hard as he could and suffered a horrendous injury last season. Last year was a write-off and it was all about getting himself fit and now he has done that. ‘He is back at a good time and he is looking sharp and adds a lot to our game. He showed that with his goal and his combination play with Ryan. He also has pace, so he will add that at the top end of the park as well.’ And so to Thursday for what should be, on paper at least, a fairly straightforward assignment against the men from the Faroe Islands. ‘The gaffer and his staff have been looking at them,’ said Ferguson. ‘We have been looking at videos to see their weaknesses and threats. We will know what we will need to do before Thursday and that will be drilled into us. ‘Hopefully, we can put on a better performance than we have shown over the last two games but it doesn’t really matter as long as we are winning. I am looking forward to it and it should be a different test.’