No way Riga rout was a fix, insists Rooney
ABERDEEN supporters who read reports that UEFA would monitor their first leg match against Daugava Riga over concerns related to match-fixing investigations had plenty material to feed conspiracy theories on Thursday night.
host of entirely unnecessary over-physical challenges from a poor visiting team, two red cards and seven bookings aided Aberdeen’s cause towards a 5-0 victory.
Pittodrie fans shared suspicions on online forums in the wake of the emphatic victory, pointing to a curious amount wagered on betting exchanges on there to be more than four goals in the fixture.
That European football’s governing body take an added interest in preliminary rounds of their club competitions is not unusual.
However, coming so soon after Scotland’s friendly against Nigeria in London was flagged up by the National Crime Agency for matchrigging examination, it brought the shadowy subject closer to home once more.
Adam Rooney, however, is not a subscriber to alarm. The striker — the only Aberdeen player to be cautioned by a busy French referee — scored twice and was content to put the aggressive antics of the opposition down to exasperation.
‘It was just the way the game went because a couple of their lads got frustrated, probably because we were dominating,’ said Rooney.
‘I’m sure they came here thinking they could get a result, so frustration took over.
‘I don’t think there were any real straight reds, just a few yellows for late tackles. That happens in games, especially against 10 men.
‘Unfortunately they’ve had two sent off, but I don’t think there’s anything strange about it.’
If there is to be a repeat display in the second leg on Thursday in Riga then Aberdeen, who had to withdraw Peter Pawlett early in the second half with an ankle injury, will be grateful for protection from the officials.
Derek McInnes could be just as pleased with his own team’s discipline in the face of the fierce tackling as he was the display of referee Nicolas Rainville.
‘The discipline within the team is fairly strong,’ noted Rooney. ‘There’s a lot of experience in the group, especially with Russell Anderson to organise and Barry Robson in the middle alongside Willo (Flood). Willo’s usually the angry one and even he kept his head.
‘When you’re winning, you don’t need to get caught up in it anyway. We’ll just look after ourselves in the second leg. No one got any serious injuries, so I don’t think the tackles were as bad as everyone made out.’
A fine crowd of 15,184 saw a false start to the rout when Barry Robson missed a penalty after claiming the ball from his Irish colleague.
Rooney was back on spot-kick duties to slot home the third goal on 52 minutes after Shaleum Logan and Niall McGinn had given Aberdeen a half-time lead. Jonny Hayes also struck in the second period.
‘Barry was always going to take the first one,’ said Rooney. ‘But to be fair to him he said to me at half-time that, if we got another one, I’d be taking it. There was no harm done.’
A scorer for Birmingham against Maribor in 2011/12 in one of four group games he played, Rooney brings Europa League experience to Aberdeen’s bid to clear the three qualifying rounds.
Birmingham lost out on a place in the last 32 to Brugge and Braga by just one point that season.
‘It was a great experience with Birmingham,’ he enthused. ‘We had 10 points but still missed out. It would’ve been great to get to the next stage but, for Aberdeen, we just want to get to the next round.
‘If we do, then we’ll play Groningen and see where it goes from there.’