Magical McGinn proves to be deadly for Dons
McInnes salute as Niall shows his true colours
NIALL McGINN caused a stir by going to watch Celtic play last week. Yesterday, his actions for Aberdeen suggested the defending champions should be more worried about keeping an eye on him in the months to come.
The 27-year-old former Parkhead forward provided an emphatic message that there are no divided loyalties in the serious business of this genuine title challenge from Pittodrie with an excellent display and the first goal in a 2-0 victory over St Mirren to ease Aberdeen four points clear of his old club.
Derek McInnes, who has now guided the Dons to eight clean-sheet Premiership wins in a row, insisted that McGinn had been let down by his agent posting pictures of the player in company with Celtic’s Anthony Stokes last Monday as the champions won at Kilmarnock.
If the manager or travelling Aberdeen support had felt in any way betrayed by one of their own, they weren’t showing it in Paisley as the shock mid-season leaders powered on with two quick-fire first-half strikes.
Shay Logan netted two minutes after McGinn’s third league goal of the campaign.
‘I think the support singing Niall’s name from the first minute was pleasing for me,’ said McInnes. ‘I thought he was outstanding. We were guilty of not giving him enough of the ball but, any time he got possession, he skinned his full-back time and time again.
‘He was still doing it right there at the death, setting up chances and making things happen. His performance today was excellent but his performances are normally excellent for me.
‘I don’t know if he was any more determined out there, he always is. I’m certainly delighted for him scoring a goal.
‘Obviously, the conditions played a part in that but he was positive in everything he did,
whether it was tracking runners, eager to get on the ball, everything he did was very positive. I was delighted with his performance.’
McGinn has been adept at creating goals for others such as Adam Rooney and David Goodwillie this season and he attempted to do the same with the cross that turned into the opening goal on 31 minutes.
Wind-assisted, it fooled Rooney, Saints defender Jeroen Tesselaar and keeper Mark Ridgers to swerve into the net.
Jonny Hayes, who teed up Logan for the second goal, insisted that McGinn’s movements last week had caused no negative issues in the Dons camp.
He said: ‘That was all brushed aside — it was just another Niall McGinn performance out there.
‘He has been like that all season. We weren’t worried about all that stuff (watching Celtic) at all. It’s up to him what he wants to do in his spare time. It wasn’t even really mentioned in the dressing room.’ The deadly double strike settled the contest left St Mirren bottom of the table on goals scored and facing an away test against Ross County next Saturday.
And Ridgers complained: ‘It’s something the boys were told — don’t let McGinn come inside.
‘It’s an area where I’d expect myself to get it, so I take responsibility for the goal. But it has taken a deflection and sat up in the air for a bit to make it very difficult.
‘It is very unfortunate for us but, sadly, that’s the way things are going at the moment.’
Saints are without a home win in 11 attempts this season and interim manager Gary Teale, who played midfielder Kenny McLean up front, will tackle the lack of goals by attempting to recruit two strikers before facing Ross County.
‘It’s the same old story,’ he said. ‘We competed reasonably well in the game but we lose a goal and the heads go down. That’s something I’m trying to change.’