The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Big Sam needed for big game
Iam sure Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is keeping everything crossed Sam Cosgrove’s hamstring injury is not as bad as first feared.
It is a measure of big Sam’s remarkable rise to prominence that a year ago the thought of him missing a few games due to injury would not have set pulses racing among any of the Dons support, but he has established himself as the main man at Pittodrie now and Aberdeen cannot afford to be without him for a long period.
The Dons did not carry the same threat without him in Paisley on Sunday. Curtis Main came in for his first start but he had one of those days where little went his way. It was a big chance against a team that, on paper, Aberdeen are expected to beat, but the Reds carried little in the way of a goal threat at St Mirren.
It is not Curtis’s fault the Dons failed to score, though. Niall McGinn and Jon Gallagher were also left out of the starting line-up by the manager and it left the Dons lacking that bit of quality in the final third.
I understand the manager’s thinking completely. Europe is the priority right now and it is so early in the season that I’m sure Derek believes if his side
do drop points they can claw them back as the campaign progresses.
Europe, and the riches that come with it, matter a lot to the Dons and with Thursday’s Europa League third qualifying round second leg against Rijeka dominating his thoughts, I’m sure Derek wanted to keep McGinn and Gallagher fresh for the game. We’re reaching the halfway stage in August but already Thursday’s game at Pittodrie has become a huge one in Aberdeen’s season. Overturning a 2-0 first leg deficit will not be easy but I don’t believe it’s mission impossible for my old club.
From what I saw of the first leg, Rijeka didn’t really trouble the Dons too much in Croatia but one poor decision from Shay Logan, which led to the Dons conceding a penalty, and a wonder strike in the closing minutes has put Igor Biscan’s team in control.
They have a lead to try to protect in Aberdeen this week but I’m sure McGinn and Gallagher will be back the starting line-up.
I’m sure the Dons boss would love to have big Sam in tow too but that looks unlikely at this point. If he does miss out then Curtis Main or James Wilson have the chance to step up and show what they can do when their club needs them most.
I don’t subscribe to the theory an early goal is vital for Aberdeen. If anything, patience is what they really need at Pittodrie.
The natural instinct is to commit men forward early but I believe controlling the game and wearing the opposition down is the key.