Dons must be more clinical in front of goal, says Mcinnes

Aberdeen boss Derek Mcinnes was pleased to see his side take the points against Hamilton but admits the result could have been more convincing.

Sam Cosgrove netted the only goal – his 19th of the season – after 53 minutes, but the Dons had a number of good opportunities, particularly in the first half.

Mcinnes said: “Firstly, it was good to win the game and take the points.

“I’ve looked back at the chances in the first half. We had three or four gilt-edged chances, but their goalkeeper has made good saves, so it’s hard for me to be too critical.

“We were up against a team who were spirited and trying to do well for their manager, so we had to break down their resolve.

“The best way to do that is to take chances and we didn’t do that in the first half.

“We never ever blew Hamilton away but we were still in charge of the game.

“I’d like to have scored more goals, to make the game more convincing, but there’s plenty of positives today.”

Hamilton sit bottom, with 12 points from 18 outings, level on points with Hearts.

Aberdeen are third, six points behind second-placed Rangers.

● Substitute Lee Erwin’s dramatic stoppage-time winner snatched Ross County a 1-0 win against Kilmarnock at the Global Energy Stadium.

The former Killie striker pounced in the second minute of time added on after coming off the bench to replace Brian Graham midway through the second half.

His shot from the edge of the box smacked off the crossbar and rebounded off goalkeeper Laurentiu Branescu back into his path and Erwin duly smashed it home from 12 yards.

● Livingston manager Gary Holt refused to criticise his players after they surrendered a two-goal lead against St Mirren.

After Aymen Souda’s second goal of the game handed Livi a 3-1 lead, Jon Obika’s double salvaged a deserved point for the Saints.

Holt’s decision to introduce captain Alan Lithgow and revert to a familiar back three failed to provide defensive stability, but he conceded it was difficult to defend amid terrible wintery conditions.

He said: “It’s a point gained in conditions which could have got the game stopped.

“It was brutal and it had a hand in the goals for both teams as the ball was swirling in the wind.”