Pittodrie boss ‘embarrassed’ by goals drought
ABERDEEN boss Derek McInnes insists he is ‘angry’ and ‘embarrassed’ after drawing yet another blank — and admits his side’s barren run has him feeling the pressure.
The Pittodrie outfit were booed off the field at the end of a goalless fifth-round Scottish Cup draw at home to Kilmarnock, with angry punters once again chanting for his head towards the end.
McInnes hit out after feeling his side had been robbed of a first-half penalty, but admitted that five games — and 454 minutes — without a goal is nowhere near good enough.
‘The composure was good on a difficult surface and the conditions were farcical at times in the second half,’ he said. ‘We were good up to a point, but I’m angry and embarrassed we haven’t scored again.
‘I am also angry at not getting the right decisions. Kilmarnock played a back five and two screeners in front and would maybe have shaken hands on a replay and got back on the bus again.
‘There were some good performances but it doesn’t matter as we didn’t win the game or score.’
Fans chanted ‘Derek, Derek get to f***’ and ‘We’re f ****** s***’ towards the end.
‘I understand it,’ said McInnes. ‘If you don’t score in five games, you deserve stick. My players need to take more responsibility but I’m in charge of the team.
‘I feel under pressure to win a game, but I’ve felt under pressure as a manager since I took over as player-manager at St Johnstone 12 or 13 years ago. I listen to key guys in the game, managers who have watched us, who say we’re not far away, but it’s difficult to defend when you don’t score again.
‘We have set a standard and I still think we will finish third in the league and believe we can have a cup run.
‘This is the toughest period, but football is like that.’
Part of McInnes’ anger revolved around a free-kick being given on 12 minutes after Niko Hamalainen had appeared to foul Matty Kennedy in the box.
‘That’s three penalties we’ve been denied in the last five games,’ said McInnes.
‘These are becoming more and more crucial. If it was Rangers and Celtic, the whole world would know about it.’
Asked if there had been any feedback from the new chairman Dave Cormack over the team’s recent form, McInnes replied: ‘No, he’s been very supportive. We are in constant dialogue.’
Kilmarnock manager Alex Dyer was happy with his side’s display, saying: ‘We didn’t create a lot but they didn’t trouble us too much.’