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Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes disappointed with draw

Last updated on .From the section Aberdeencomments17

Derek McInnes

Derek McInnes said his Aberdeen players failed to reproduce their recent form in the draw against St Mirren.

A late strike from Peter Pawlett secured a point for the Dons, but McInnes was frustrated at a sluggish display.

"I think it was a game we came here to win," said McInnes. "But I don't think we showed enough of ourselves to get all three points."

"We took a point, but we came here to get all three."

Steven Thompson opened the scoring for the Buddies in the 54th minute with a close-range strike, but Pawlett rifled home an 84th-minute equaliser to see the Dons stretch their unbeaten run to six games.

McInnes praised Danny Lennon's side, but felt his Dons side failed to reproduce the form showed against Falkirk, Inverness and Partick Thistle, which saw the Pittodrie club notch up nine goals without reply.

"When we got the equaliser, it looked like the ascendency was with us," said McInnes. "Ultimately, we ran out of time to get the next goal.

"I'm disappointed because we're better than we showed tonight.

"Credit to St Mirren for a battling performance, but I don't think we were quite at ourselves in that first-half period, but I expect us individually to show a bit more than we did.

"The players deserve credit, because even though we weren't at our best by any stretch, we always looked threatening and we got our just rewards with the equaliser.

"You set up to win every game, you're not going to win every one, but there's an approach to try to win them.

"I'm kicking myself a bit because I don't think we were quite right - and I take responsibility for that and so do the players take responsibility for their individual performances.

"I think regardless of the opposition, you've got to make sure you're good enough on your own merits to get all three points, and tonight, certainly in the first half and in bits and pieces of the second, we weren't."

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17 comments

  • Comment posted by Socialism is the only answer, at 07:50 1 Oct 2013

    Zola, Iv'e seen lampposts with more movement, wrecking balls with a better touch and "buddies" that moan less. (OK that last one is a lie)

  • Comment posted by User0547283309, at 12:21 1 Oct 2013

    "...give him the VHS of how Steven Thompson played last night and he might get a clue about how to be a striker."

    I'm not sure that Zola played that much differently to Thompson, last night. Both of them were jostling, barging and making a nuisance of themselves, but the ref seemed to view almost everything Zola did as a foul.

    That nice Steven Thompson off the telly, on the other hand...

  • Comment posted by philfaebuckie, at 13:50 1 Oct 2013

    Zola just cannot make the ball stick. He has no close control. His lack of subtlety is such that refs will find reason to card him every week. Poor Scott Vernon was found coming back very deep near the end of the first half as there were no scraps to be had off Zola and the route one approach was leaving him starved of possession.

  • Comment posted by Deeb, at 10:34 1 Oct 2013

    Zola looks awful, guaranteed booking every game, doesn't even hold the ball up, give him the VHS of how steven Thompson played last night and he might get a clue about how to be a striker. Subbing Vernon at half time was also a joke, far better player than zola. Long ball game doesn't suit Aberdeen players so why play it. Jack looked quality - got to be in WGS squad

  • Comment posted by User0830077009, at 10:47 1 Oct 2013

    Should be embarrassed at dropping points to STM: they are garbage. Dons got it tactically wrong on the night. McGinn should have been on earlier and as for Zola?..too slow and cumbersome and lacks control, needs to be parked in the box.

  • Comment posted by John_B81, at 10:47 1 Oct 2013

    The worst League performance of the season. McInnes got his starting selection wrong by playing Vernon and Zola then bigger mistake keeping Zola on and subbing Vernon. We looked more lively when McGinn came on, once he's fully fit we'll be much better. Think too many people thought it'd be a walk over for us, that was never going to be the case and St Mirren proved that. Draw was fair result

  • Comment posted by User0853991882, at 10:02 1 Oct 2013

    Pawlett shoulda done his usual Fosbury Flop in the box and you coulda stolen all three points. He's a great all rounder that boy!

  • Comment posted by naptha, at 07:24 2 Oct 2013

    As long as Considine is playing for Aberdeen we are always going to get results like this,the guy has the concentration level of a goldfish.
    Yet again he lets the ball go past him and land at Steve Thompsons feet,instead of clearing it up the park.

  • Comment posted by Luxdon, at 21:30 1 Oct 2013

    Surely now it is clear neither Zola, Vernon nor Magennis are of sufficient quality to start every week.
    The point was lost because McInnes showed too much faith in players who don't have what it takes, even at this level.

  • Comment posted by User0563516188, at 16:22 1 Oct 2013

    Although I only saw the highlights of the game, I do think we look a fair bit better going forward than we have over the last few seasons. But I do think we could have been better, and we should have really taken 3 points considering St Mirren started to bottle it a bit at the end, but a draw is a fair result being away from home!!!

    Far better than going home with nout!!!

  • Comment posted by dandie1903, at 22:43 1 Oct 2013

    Stand free!!! C.O.Y.R

  • Comment posted by goggyturk, at 16:06 1 Oct 2013

    Having Vernon and Zola on meant less room for Cammy Smith and Pawlett to play into in front of their defence. They also played in the same areas outside the box too much.

    Vernon needs to be paired with a smaller, more mobile front man who can make some space around the box for him to run into, like what Bebo used to do. I wonder who Aberdeen have that could do that job? Hmm...

  • Comment posted by philfaebuckie, at 14:13 1 Oct 2013

    Pawlett was also being bypassed in the rapid back-to-front nature of Aberdeen's first half play to the extent that I honestly had to check the team lines to be sure that he was on the park. When Aberdeen started playing football later in the game Pawlett was involved in everything. Similarly Hayes was undersupplied.

  • Comment posted by Doninfor, at 08:13 1 Oct 2013

    The manager got it wrong. Wrong starting 11 and wrong substitution at half time. If you score 4 goals in less than 2 games you need to play between the posts. We thumped the ball long all night and played right into Saints hands. Why disrupt Jack, Pawlett & Smith in the middle of the park? Annoying, such a winnable game. 2 points given away to those around us.

  • Comment posted by User0405076794, at 13:02 1 Oct 2013

    #8

    Spot on mate!

  • Comment posted by User0362458550, at 15:11 1 Oct 2013

    Zola reminded me a bit of Enoch Showumni. A giant powerful black guy from the English lower leagues with no idea how to kick a football. Ngoo for Hearts was a bit like that too.

    At least in Scotland when we have giant powerful guys that can't play football we stick them in defence. But up top? Madness.

  • Comment posted by User0405076794, at 09:51 1 Oct 2013

    Only watched the last 10 minutes when the Buddies bottle was obviously crashing.

    Aberdeen hit the post, scored, then McGinn missed a sitter at the end - lucky point for St M.

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