JEERS TO CHEERS
Goodwin delighted for Scots — but missed Porteous heroics
JIM GOODWIN insists his recent row with Ryan Porteous didn’t diminish the delight he felt upon learning that Scotland had earned a crucial point against Ukraine on Tuesday.
The Aberdeen manager landed an SFA charge for venting his fury at the Hibernian defender as his team lost at Easter Road just before the international break.
Claiming Porteous had been guilty of ‘blatant cheating’ after winning a penalty in a tussle with Liam Scales, Goodwin was further angered by seeing his defender shown a second yellow card during the 3-1 defeat.
But although he has now been issued with a notice of complaint, the Dons boss (below) says he was pleased to hear of Scotland’s resolute defensive display in Krakow, which earned a Euro 2024 playoff spot and promotion — with Porteous at its heart.
‘I never saw the game,’ he stressed. ‘I was busy watching Ireland v Armenia — that was a classic! A lot was riding on that one to see who finished bottom.
‘I was delighted for Steve Clarke and all the boys in that squad who I know like John McGinn, Kenny McLean and Declan Gallagher.
‘I am really pleased for Scotland as a whole. This country has been very good to me. My loyalty is to the Republic of Ireland when we are in the same group but I always want to see Scotland do well, so I was delighted to see them get their promotion.’
Goodwin will be in the dugout when his side face Kilmarnock at Pittodrie tomorrow but is sweating on the outcome of next Thursday’s Hampden hearing to see if he’ll be banned from any subsequent matches.
Although reluctant to prejudice any outcome, he doesn’t feel that being forced to sit in the stand would necessarily be a disadvantage.
‘I don’t think it matters a great deal,’ he added. ‘I can’t say a great deal about what is going on at the moment because the inquiry still needs to happen.
‘But whether I am on the touchline or not, the work is all done Monday to Friday. There will be communication between myself and the other staff if need be but hopefully it does not come to that.
‘Hopefully, common sense prevails and I will be able to take the team.’
Regardless of where he watches them, Goodwin’s side face six games throughout a packed October, starting with tomorrow’s return to the Granite City for Derek McInnes.
Aberdeen start the weekend in seventh place but he fact they are just three points away from third-placed Hearts shows how quickly they could potentially make up the ground.
‘When we go into the World Cup break, we want to be up there at the top end of the table,’ Goodwin stressed.
‘The league is extremely tight at the moment. One win can catapult teams near the bottom right back up into the mix again at third or fourth. ‘You saw that the other weekend when we were sitting third prior to the Hibs game.
‘Then, teams around you win games and, all of a sudden, you drop a few places.
It is a busy month for everyone.’
Goodwin feels his new-look squad haven’t yet picked up as many points as their performances have deserved but he remains convinced that won’t remain the case for much longer.
‘We are not looking to make excuses but I do think we are probably two or three points, at least, light on where we probably should be,’ he offered.
‘We know we are capable of beating anyone but we have to get to that level of consistency.’
Scales is suspended tomorrow while the game comes a week too soon for Connor Barron to make his return.
Goodwin also expects his Pittodrie predecessor McInnes to get a good reception.
‘Yes. I don’t see why not,’ he said. ‘Derek spent eight years at Aberdeen and did very well.
‘He improved some of the infrastructure.
‘I think Derek can come back to Pittodrie with his head held high.
‘I’m pretty sure he will get a decent reception.’