McInnes rues big losses as his Dons close in on second
IT would not have the same tangible qualities as the second trophy he has long coveted as Aberdeen manager but Derek McInnes insists his team are ravenous to clinch the Premiership’s runners-up spot for a fourth consecutive season. Friday night’s 2-0 victory over Hearts took the Pittodrie side back into second spot and ensured that Celtic will need to beat Rangers this afternoon to clinch the title.
If there’s much regret and soul searching over the fact his players have failed to take a single point from either half of the Old Firm this term, there is also pride in the team’s wider consistency in an improved division. ‘We have only won one (league) game fewer than Celtic this season and that highlights our frustration,’ said McInnes (left). ‘Where we haven’t done well enough is in the games against the Old Firm teams. ‘Defensively, we are usually pretty tight. Our record is up there, we have only conceded one or two goals fewer than at this stage last season, and in the middle of the park we compete and get about our business.
‘When our forward players turn up and play to form, then we normally win games but I do feel in the games against the Old Firm that’s not been the case.
‘Generally, I think that Rangers and Celtic’s forward players have had a bigger impact in the games. So when those games come round again, it is important that we have a complete performance from everybody.’
In the aftermath of his side’s 3-0 defeat to Motherwell in the Scottish Cup semi-final, McInnes admitted that his recruitment over two transfer windows had been flawed.
With midfielder Kenny McLean set to depart for Norwich and Ryan Christie due back at parent club Celtic, there will be a need for a new batch of signings this summer.
Before that, the current group has three important matches to come, starting with next weekend’s visit of Neil Lennon’s Hibs in a clash that promises to be a cracker as the teams continue their threeway fight with Rangers for second.
‘I have such a high regard for the hard work Neil’s done with his team there,’ said McInnes. ‘He’s assembled a brilliant side and we’ve managed to beat them twice and lose, deservedly, against them last time.
‘I’m glad we are in the mix to keep ourselves second because we are proud of the fact we’re in there.
‘I hear wee John McGinn talking about how special it would be for Hibs to finish second this season. That type of statement should be a reminder to ourselves of how special it would be for us to, once again, finish second. ‘People would have maybe expected us to roll over and feel sorry for ourselves after the semi. There has a been a lot of talk about other teams rather than our team but I think our performances over the last two games shows our motivation and determination to do it.’ Having lost to Hearts and then folded at Hampden, momentum seemed to have deserted McInnes’s team going into the split. Back-to-back wins against Kilmarnock and Craig Levein’s team have altered the dynamic. ‘If there was one word to describe our performance against Hearts it was intent,’ said McInnes. ‘I thought there was a real intensity to our play. I thought we made contact all over the pitch and made sure their prominent players were being worked to death all over the pitch. ‘I thought we used the ball very well and the difference between Friday’s game and the match at Tynecastle is that, not only were we more physical in our work, we also played with more intelligence and played round their shape more.
‘We got on the outside of John Souttar and Christophe Berra and I thought our two wide players made it a running game and got us up the pitch brilliantly.’
Signed as a replacement of sorts for Jonny Hayes, Gary MackaySteven has not always delivered for McInnes but on Friday he was his team’s best player.
Starting as a right wing-back the former Celtic man showed a willingness to track back alongside his usual set of dribbling skills.
There was a goal, too, for the 27-year-old as he joined Anthony O’Connor on the scoresheet.
‘I think Gary took confidence from his goal,’ said McInnes. ‘We want him to make the run beyond a wee bit more often.
‘Sometimes I think he’s happy to take it to feet but, as a quick player, he has to make sure he works the grass a bit more.’