Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes 'confident' of Europa League progress

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Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes his side can score in Cyprus next week

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is convinced his side will finish off Europa League opponents Apollon Limassol in Cyprus next week.

The Dons take a 2-1 advantage into the game, which has been switched to the AEK Stadium in Larnaca.

Ryan Christie put them in front after four minutes of the first leg, and Graeme Shinnie hit a stunning winner on 78 minutes after Jander's equaliser.

"We go over to Cyprus confident of getting the job done," said McInnes.

"We are disappointed to lose the away goal, but we thoroughly deserved to win the game."

McInnes said he was always confident his side would score goals, no matter who they are playing.

"We will be ready for them having more of the ball and we have to take the heat over there into consideration as well," he said.

"But we have had a couple of big wins when we have played against good teams like Rijeka and Siroki Brijeg in hot temperatures, so we can do that again."

Apollon Limassol head coach Safronis Avgousti
Apollon Limassol head coach Safronis Avgousti was sent to the stand after his side equalised

McInnes is wary of having conceded an away goal but believes his team has the firepower necessary to reach the play-off round for the first time.

Striker Adam Rooney missed Thursday's match with a hamstring injury, but his manager has not given up hope of having his most reliable goalscorer fit to play in the return leg.

The hosts will be without Esteban Sachetti after the Argentine midfielder was sent off at Pittodrie, while coach Safronis Avgousti was sent to the stand.

McInnes hoped his side would have pressed home their numerical advantage, but added he was not shocked by the quality of Apollon's play.

"I'm not surprised they scored as they are a good team, but I was always confident that we would score at least two goals," he said.

"We finished the game strongly and, if it had gone on for another 10 minutes, I think we would have scored more.

"It was a very good team performance and we are beginning to show what we can be capable of in the season ahead.

"I can't not mention the sell-out crowd as well as they are a real asset to us and I just wish we could have that backing in every game at Pittodrie."

Aberdeen midfielder Graeme Shinnie
Aberdeen midfielder Graeme Shinnie scored a stunning strike to defeat Apollon Limassol

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48 comments

  • Comment posted by Govie, at 09:23 28 Jul 2017

    My throat is still recovering from last night.

    What an atmosphere and what a goal from Shinnie. That's how you drive a team on as a captain.

    Some dodgy refereeing going on too that didn't do us any favours.

    We look a strong confident team, which is saying something after losing Hayes and McGinn. Don't have to chase the game next week but hope we don't go there simply to defend.

    COYR

  • Comment posted by loseyourlines, at 09:27 28 Jul 2017

    Difficult at this time of the year for all Scottish clubs but the Dons are doing well. Hopefully both Aberdeen and Celtic will have European football this season. COYR

  • Comment posted by Wee Brian, at 09:16 28 Jul 2017

    Good luck in the 2nd leg Aberdeen. Scotland needs all the coefficient points it can get. The team have made a good start to the season with the new signings settling in and Ryan Christie already looking good. Fingers crossed for you.

  • Comment posted by Vultureculture, at 09:11 28 Jul 2017

    Hope Aberdeen can make it thru this next tie and past the playoffs into the groups. Would be great for the players and club.

  • Comment posted by nath1980, at 13:24 28 Jul 2017

    Congratulations from a Gers fan good to see other Scottish clubs succeeding in Europe especially after our embarrassing performance.

  • Comment posted by Arthur D, at 09:49 28 Jul 2017

    Won't be easy in Cyprus but stil think every chance, be nice to fly the flag for Scotland and not a paramilitary emblem in sight.

  • Comment posted by QFT, at 13:01 28 Jul 2017

    Another good result for Aberdeen. Hopefully we can go through.

    I am grateful for Derek McInnes and the team that he has built.

    I have fond memories of the successful Aberdeen of the 80's under Ferguson; the highlight being a day off school to watch the Cup Winners Cup being paraded around the city.

    I know we won't see success like that again but it is good to see the team performing well.

  • Comment posted by objectif, at 10:18 28 Jul 2017

    Well done Dons and Ryan Christie once again chipping in when it matters. Shinnie too of course, leading from the front. Great to see Aberdeen as a force again domestically and - hoping I'm not tempting fate here - making inroads in Europe, surely good for club and country.

  • Comment posted by stringerbell, at 14:28 28 Jul 2017

    If the stadium was full like that every week the team would do so much better. They deserve that support

  • Comment posted by NapervilleDon, at 14:23 28 Jul 2017

    Delighted with a win. disappointed to lose a goal. Delighted to see some support from fans of other clubs, disappointed that "supporters" of one team in particular can't seem to see past their blue noses. And then there's the typical guffie trolling.

    COYR!

  • Comment posted by stu82, at 10:05 28 Jul 2017

    8. Posted by CDawg on
    1 minute ago
    "What is an Aberdeen?"

    ... what is a CDawg?

  • Comment posted by George1967, at 19:23 28 Jul 2017

    Well done the Dandy Dons,Any victory is good in Europe,Lets hope we finish the job next week. We are out of sync now with the early rounds,maybe we should think about a Scandanavian type season,The SFA should be coming up with a plan ,we have a director of performance but we never see or hear him,This has been going on for years,we must break this cycle of underachieviment.(Celtic Fan)

  • Comment posted by Go Cro, at 15:38 28 Jul 2017

    Great stuff for Scottish coefficient... Aberdeen in EL group stages would be fantastic...
    Hopefully in 2-3 years time Celtic could have direct spot in CL Group stage

  • Comment posted by Socrates, at 15:12 28 Jul 2017

    Going to be a difficult night in Cyprus for the Dons, but the tie is in their hands. I think they'll need to score though...

  • Comment posted by Jaffabhoy , at 12:42 28 Jul 2017

    18: glorifying a win from 50yr ago, which is not relevant? By your logic that means that the old english 1st division (pre Sky/premiership) is also irrelevant. Sorry, can't agree with you. Anyhow, well done Aberdeen. Not easy @ this stage of the season. In Europe Scotland needs all the help it can get.

  • Comment posted by U15775681, at 11:02 28 Jul 2017

    COYR, fantastic result and performance.

  • Comment posted by samerulesapply, at 16:55 28 Jul 2017

    Good win against a team who have beaten lazio and marseille amongst others in recent years. Hopefully go through now and push on. With scottish teams like hibs hearts rangers etc finally improving their squads hopefully better time times ahead for scottish football. Looking forward to new season despite all the doomsayers

  • Comment posted by eyedarken, at 16:38 28 Jul 2017

    Good times keep on rolling for us dons. Getting McInnes to sign up until twitty-twitty has been the biggest boost in recent times. He's building something at Aberdeen that hasn't been managed since the 80 and it's obvious the board, the dressing room and the fans have total faith in him. He ticks all the boxes when it comes to fitba management and he's got integrity to boot. Happy daze-monihdons!

  • Comment posted by Warmwetgoaliegloves, at 11:05 28 Jul 2017

    @11

    You Sir/Miss speak for every football supporter in Scotland outside the Terrible Two.

  • Comment posted by Abershandy, at 12:46 28 Jul 2017

    With the new players continuing to blend and getting full match fitness should get through.

    Have to single out Arnason as top class signing, once a red always a red!

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