Mcinnes vexed as Dons strikers spurn glorious chances
Aberdeen moved to within three points of third-placed Hibernian but Derek Mcinnes was frustrated not to be a lot closer than that.
The Dons failed to take full advantage of the capital club’s defeat at Perth with another punchless performance against struggling Hamilton.
This was the eighth time in nine games that Mcinnes watched his side fail to score but this was especially agonising.
He said: “We have to take confidence from the clean sheet and being a point closer to Hibs but we felt we missed an opportunity today.
“We reiterate to the players they are good enough and remind them that all the best strikers can miss chances.
“We want them to be more natural, instinctive and go into games expecting to score.
“But I said before the game third was there for us and I believe that even more so.”
That could depend on Hibs continuing to struggle as they make up their game in hand over Aberdeen away to Ross County next Saturday.
Hamilton are at Livingston the same day and travel with the confidence of a side who are finally off the foot of the league.
They dug in for the point that took them above Kilmarnock but it was largely down to dismal finishing from the home side that made it possible early on.
Callum Hendry’s winner against Kilmarnock remains the only goal the Dons have scored in over 810 minutes of football.
It certainly wasn’t for the lack of trying – in the first half especially – but they too often appeared overly anxious at times.
For example, on-loan St Gallen striker Florian Kamberi was a blur of action trying to link up play and get into good positions.
That drive and determination wasn’t matched by the composure needed to exploit the chances created on several occasions.
In 12 minutes the Swiss-born Albanian created space for a shot 22 yards out that flew wide of the target but worse was to follow.
Niall Mcginn set him up in front of gaping goal after pouncing Jamie Hamilton’s slip but Kamberi took a touch too much on the ball.
That allowed Aaron Martin to block what should have been a certain opener and to make matters worse Mcginn’s follow-up was cleared by Brian Easton.
Then Kamberi and Mcginn combined to open up a square Accies defence only for Hendry to scoop the ball over from six yards.
The same player then saw a Kamberi cross bounce off his thigh and creep agonisingly wide of the post all in the opening 20 minutes.
Those let-offs were all the encouragement Hamilton needed.
Ross Callaghan and David Moyo worked to create chances with the former calling Joe Lewis into serious action with a 35-yard drive.
To be fair that’s about all the Aberdeen captain had to do as the men in front of him kept throwing bodies in the way to guarantee an 18th clean sheet.
Accies showed their usual battling qualities despite losing creative midfielder Nathan Thomas through injury before the break.
They might even have won it in a hard fought second half of few chances but substitute Callum Smith had a fresh air swipe at a David Moyo cross.
Then Scott Martin was denied a penalty when his effort was blocked by Andrew Considine’s arm but the officials waved away claims.
It would have been rubbing it in if Considine had scored at the other end instead of failing from close range but it was another one of those days.