Aberdeen need a modern-day version of Dunc
Duncan Shearer says Aberdeen’s midweek win at Ibrox shows how far the Dons have come in the last four months. The former Pittodrie star slated Derek Mcinnes’ side for their performance in the 1-1 draw against Rangers on the opening day of the season.
But he had nothing but praise for the way they bounced back from defeat in the Betfred Cup Final to Celtic last Sunday, by reprising their victory over Steven Gerrard’s team in the cup semi-final.
“I had a go at them back in August because I wasn’t impressed,” he said. “Yes, it was a draw. But remember that, when Alfredo Morleos got sent off early on, Aberdeen were up against 10 men for virtually the whole game. “If you didn’t know that, though, you wouldn’t have guessed because they were on the back foot throughout. “Bruce Anderson’s equaliser right at the death was only their second shot on target.
“So, while a lot of people were really pleased, for me it wasn’t good enough. In those circumstances, Aberdeen should be dominating the game, regardless who the opposition is.
“To go away to Rangers and win with 10 men, by contrast, is a tremendous effort. One which shows just how far the team have come this season. “I know Morelos got sent off – again – in the second half, but for half-an-hour or so they were a man down at Ibrox and stood tall. “Remember, too, this was a team which is still without Mikey Devlin and has also just lost Gary Mackay-steven.
“Willie Miller always said to me that to win anything you had to be able to go to Glasgow and beat Rangers and Celtic.
“This team has now managed that twice against Rangers in two months and run Celtic close, too.”
Shearer, who scored 55 goals for the Dons in the 1990s at a rate of about one every three games, reckons the team only lacks one thing – a modern-day version of himself!
“For me, a consistent goalscorer would be the final piece of the jigsaw for Aberdeen,” he said. “Someone to give them the kind of return that Morelos provides for Rangers. That would make all the difference. “Sam Cosgrove is a young lad who is eager and works away well and Anderson has loads of potential. But there is no one getting the kind of numbers you are after. The sort of return the likes of Adam Rooney used to supply.
“So, as strong as the defence clearly is, until you get someone to bang in more goals then there is always going to be the potential to slip up in matches you should be winning.
“Otherwise, the signs are all very positive.”