Aberdeen Off-day can be final spur

Little can be said in defence of the performance at the weekend but the looming cup final can perhaps provide an explanation for why so many players had an off-day.

There is a clear implied situation, especially in our team where there is no regular starting 11, that players in the lead-up to a final are playing for a place. I’m sure the manager may even have said as much last week. Players should be professional enough to be able to avoid distraction in these situations but human nature dictates many will have been consciously or even subconsciously aware of the additional pressure. Thankfully, if this is the case the pressure has been felt last Saturday and will not carry forward to Sunday’s game. Indeed the poor performance may spur on some for the final itself.