The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Reds in good shape with much to play for – Mcginn
ABERDEEN: Winger insists poor run is just a blip and ‘one big win’ can change mood
Aberdeen winger Niall Mcginn believes reports of his club’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
The Dons have struggled badly since returning from the winter break, embarking on a five-match run without a goal.
Fans have been quick to voice their displeasure, calling for manager Derek Mcinnes to go while striker Sam Cosgrove’s substitution against Kilmarnock in Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie at Pittodrie was also cheered by angry supporters.
Mcginn understands the unrest and unhappiness from the fans but is confident the poor start to 2020 is nothing more than a blip.
He said: “Things are getting blown out of proportion. We are still fourth in the league and still in the Scottish Cup and if we win on Sunday then the season could become great again if we also do well in the cup.
“We are only three points behind Motherwell. It is a matter of getting the one big win and then building on that.
“My first season we finished eighth and that was massively disappointing. We had seven or eight games where we drew at home and so that was a major frustration.
“Since the manager has come in the club has gone from strength to strength, we have had European football every season and regularly been in finals and semi-finals.
“The club has progressed so much and we have training facilities that are second to none and that can only enhance us in the future and also help bring players to the club.
“We can work hard on things and we will continue to do that and to put things right. We know a couple of wins and we could be back in amongst it again, fighting for third spot, European football and a good run in the Scottish Cup.”
No Aberdeen team has gone six games in a row without scoring and that is the unwanted statistic the class of 2020 will be bidding to avoid at Hamilton tonight.
Mcginn believes a change of scenery from Pittodrie may be just the tonic required to end the drought.
He said: “A lot of teams come to Pittodrie and sit behind the ball. We have a lot of the ball but maybe we need to change it up a bit, play a little longer, get teams turned and play territory football.
“Playing away from home suits us a little bit more as the home team has to come out and attack us and that gives us a little more space.
“We’ve always been good on set-plays in my time here but goals need to come from all over, whether it is defenders or attacking midfielders.”