Dons are feeling the benefit of taking an early-season battering
Derek Mcinnes believes that Aberdeen’s Covid-19 controversy at the start of this season might just have been the making of his team.
The Dons had two players test positive, and a further halfdozen forced to self-isolate, after they visited a city centre bar just hours after playing Rangers
It brought condemnation from, among others, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and sanctions from the SPFL with games postponed and a fine issued.
As he looked to today’s clash with Celtic, Mcinnes reflected: “I knew everything would settle down.
“But there was a lot of noise surrounding us and we took a kicking.
“We were so annoyed with ourselves because we felt we’d been so stringent with what we were doing.
“But the players let their guard down, and ultimately the club got beaten up for that.
“Everyone and anyone was making comment, but we felt we had been doing a lot of things better than most.
“We were the first club to fall short of the protocols, and that was through naivety.
“I felt we had to come fighting back as a club, and get the right response.”
That came in the shape of a 1-0 victory in front of the Sky cameras at Mcdiarmid Park.
“We had had one competitive game in five months, then went to St Johnstone without a striker available,” Mcinnes recalled.
“We were pretty average, at best, that night but we scored the late goal.
“That allowed us to find our rhythm and confidence
“Behind it all, there has been a real calmness within. Everyone came back in, and focused on their work. The players have fostered a real togetherness and spirit – and that plays out in their performances.
“It has been a good start, and I do think coming through that adversity has galvanised us
“Sometimes when you have to come through something, it helps with the focus and togetherness.”
Mcinnes has a huge call to make today, revolving round one of the eight, Sam Cosgrove.
The striker has made a quick recovery following his fractured knee, and the Dons manager has to decide whether to throw him in from the start against Celtic, or leave him on the substitutes’ bench.
“Sam wasn’t on the park long on Sunday, but Celtic certainly knew he was there and his teammates got a lift from him,” he said.
“For two years he has been our talisman. There’s no doubt about that.
“When he starts to come back into the frame, any team’s main striker – and one as consistent as Sam – does give his teammates a lift.
“Instantly, we looked better. “I think we can all see he has loads still to do to sharpen up his game.
“But he hits the bar, he is involved in the penalty, he forces the save for Hedges’ goal.
“He was involved right away, and he got us up the pitch.
“No longer were their centrehalves booming headers 30 yards. Things were dropping for Wright and Hedges to get onto, and they capitalised.
“Sam played a key part, and I do think having him available – either to start or from the bench – is going to be a benefit to us.
“However, if you count lockdown, he has not had a lot of football since March.”