McInnes hopes for a jumpstart after Ibrox draw

DEREK McINNES hopes a point at Ibrox can provide a springboard to restoring natural order for Aberdeen by the end of this month.

The Dons manager’s vocal critics among the travelling support were, for yesterday at least, back onside after holding Rangers to a draw. They now face four league games — against St Johnstone, Hamilton, Celtic and Ross County — plus a Scottish Cup tie at home to Kilmarnock before February is out.

Aberdeen have three points to make up on Motherwell, a deficit reduced thanks to the Fir Park club’s loss at Livingston. The plan is to hurdle their thirdplace rivals and be in the last eight of the Scottish Cup to bring all at Pittodrie back on the same page again.

McInnes said: ‘We want to come out of February sitting third in the league and in the quarter-finals of the cup. That’s always been our intention and that’s what we’ll work towards.

‘This is a point in the right direction that maybe nobody thought we’d pick up, but it’s just a point.

‘We’ve had four games since the break and lost one goal from a setplay, which we’re annoyed about. But, by and large, we’ve been very solid defensively.

‘We have a proper midfield, which allows us to have a bit more control and protection for the back lot.

‘We want to be more threatening in forward areas but this game wasn’t perfect for analysing or judging that clearly.

‘I trust my players and believe in my squad. I can understand, at a certain level the criticism that comes with the territory.

‘But we’ve been through tough spells before in my time. I’ve shown, and my teams have shown, that we always come through it. So we just knuckle down, work hard, try to ignore the noise and concentrate on what we do.

‘That is working really closely together and try and deliver better performances.

‘I’m confident we’ll deliver better performances in the second half of the season.’

McInnes was delighted at how his men kept Rangers at bay. Joe Lewis produced excellent saves from Scott Arfield and Alfredo Morelos.

In front of their captain, Ash Taylor and Scott McKenna go from strength to strength as a double act and Funso Ojo nullified Rangers’ creativity.

McInnes (below) said: ‘If you get a clean sheet here with the talent in the Rangers dressing room, then you know you’ve done a lot of things right.

‘I have such a high regard for this Rangers team, the way Steven (Gerrard) has them playing. They can play round you, through you, beyond you.

‘So, to keep them out is really pleasing and tells you how well the players have done.

‘It wasn’t perfect because we haven’t won. But it was a good performance and we deserved the draw, certainly. I thought we had the best chances, despite Rangers having the majority of the ball.’

New signing Ronald Hernandez wasn’t required yesterday and watched from the bench.

The Venezuelan right-back, who has 15 caps, joined from Norwegian side Stabaek and could shape into competition then long-term replacement material for Shay Logan.

‘Shay’s been a brilliant performer and continues to do well for me,’ explained McInnes. ‘He’s 32, it’s up to us to continue to look to the future and get young players in.

‘We are bringing a player in who we think is exciting, he’s done quite a bit for someone so young.’