GLASS: WE NEED A CUTTING EDGE
STEPHEN GLASS last night vowed to use the international break to help his Aberdeen players find the killer touch. The Dons boss admitted they lacked quality in front of goal in yesterday’s disappointing home draw with Ross County, which saw them receive a smattering of boos at full-time.
After being knocked out of Europe by Qarabag of Azerbaijan, he insists he can devote extra time in training to making his team more clinical.
Christian Ramirez’s 88th-minute equaliser salvaged a point for the Dons after Regan Charles-Cook gave County a shock first-half lead, with Glass saying: ‘We were creating so much and had so much possession. If we had more quality, it’s a different outcome.
‘It’s a group of players together for the first time and I don’t want to make excuses but we’ve not trained properly since the start of pre-season because of Europe.
‘But we get a chance to put that right because going out of Europe means it’s Saturday to Saturday games now and it’s important we make it right on the training ground.’
Glass hopes ex-Rangers defender David Bates can play a major role after joining from Hamburg yesterday in a three-year deal. ‘He’s a top centrehalf, who has pace and power and is a young Scottish international player. He will be a big part of the future. It’s important to bring people in with that age and profile.’
This was billed as a ‘homecoming’ celebration after Pittodrie was opened up to all for the first time since the onset of Covid in March 2020 but the party atmosphere fell flat.
At least the old ground finally shook when USA international Ramirez slid the ball in from close range at the death.
This was a chance spurned by the Dons to go into the break sitting joint top of the Premiership alongside Hibs and Hearts. They had plenty of the ball and chances to win the game, yet County could have scored more than one themselves.
Aberdeen may be unbeaten in the league but it’s now five matches without a win.
Before kick-off there was only positivity as folk singer Iona Fyfe’s version of The Northern Lights won a standing ovation.
In the crowd of 14,434 were 500 NHS Grampian workers, handed tickets as a ‘thank you’ for their roles on the Covid frontline.
Former Rangers defender Bates was also in the stands as he awaits international clearance, and striker Marley Watkins was on the bench after his return on a two-year deal.
With debuts for loan duo Austin Samuels from Wolves and Matty Longstaff from Newcastle, much was expected against a County side without a league win to their name this season.
The Highlanders should have taken the lead after Longstaff’s poor pass to Scott Brown was seized upon by Jordan White. He sent Ross Callachan
scampering through but Joe Lewis rushed out to save.
Then Brown slid to divert a dangerous cross from Connor Randall and watched anxiously as the ball went wide.
Aberdeen had a claim for handball in the box by Randall rightly waved away by Nick Walsh. Funso Ojo then sent over an enticing ball from the right that found no takers as it flashed across the six-yard box.
For all their good attacking positions, Aberdeen were too often hampered by a poor final ball. County made them pay on 33 minutes. Blair Spittal’s cross from the left flank found its way to
Harry Paton. His shot was well saved by Lewis but the ball fell perfectly for Charles-Cook to tuck home. Samuels thought he had equalised when he hooked a shot over keeper Ross Laidlaw that drifted just wide. Charles-Cook then had the chance to double County’s advantage when played in on goal by Callachan only for Lewis to make another important stop. At the other end, Longstaff’s thumping drive was spilled by Laidlaw for a corner. Calvin Ramsay’s kick picked out Ramirez but his shot was blocked. Callachan could have scored for County when he ran through on goal and rounded Lewis. His shot from a narrow angle was cleared by the backtracking Ramsay.
In a frantic late spell, Lewis Ferguson’s shot was blocked, with Ramirez unable to capitalise from the rebound.
Then Alex Iacovitti managed to clear the ball over his own crossbar as Ferguson looked to head home from close range.
Just as the situation looked hopeless, Laidlaw spilled a 20-yard shot by Jonny Hayes and Ramirez turned the ball home, sparkling bedlam.
County boss Malky Mackay admitted plundering a point was bittersweet when his side could have won all three. ‘I would normally be delighted but we are disappointed because of the chances we created,’ he said.