what the managers said

From PA Sport

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes was frustrated that his side couldn’t break down St Johnstone as the two teams played out a goalless draw at Pittodrie.

After an even first half the Dons stepped up a gear after the break but couldn’t make the breakthrough, thanks in part to the performance of Saints keeper Steve Banks, who pulled off a top-class save to deny Niall McGinn.

McInnes said: “I’m disappointed because I think we had enough chances second half to win the game.

“The first half was much of a muchness. We were tepid to say the least in the first half and, us being the home team, the emphasis is on us to make the difference and try to force the issue.

“We didn’t pass the ball and control the game well enough in the first half. We had to make sure that we had more control, and I felt we had that in the second half. It was much more the kind of performance I would expect.

“St Johnstone have their keeper to thank for a number of outstanding saves, and credit to Steve Banks for that.”

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright was pleased with the way his side bounced back from their 4-0 defeat to Dundee United last week, praising their defending and the performance of Banks who is deputising for the injured Alan Mannus.

He said: “Parts of the second half we were under pressure, but you have to expect that being away from home to a side of the quality of Aberdeen.

“Most of the chances were from set-plays and shots from outside the box. There was maybe only McGinn’s chance where we were opened up. I’m really pleased with how we defended as a team.

“Coming from conceding four goals last week, I’ve got to be pleased with our performance. We hoped we wouldn’t concede and that would give us a platform to go and win the game.

“We did have a few chances in a pretty even first half, but with Aberdeen being the home side we expected them to come at us, and I’m really pleased with how we stood up to that.”

When asked about 41-year-old Banks’ performance, Wright added: “He’s a credit to himself in terms of keeping himself fit. His reflexes are still sharp, and today was probably the busiest game he’s had and he came through it really well

“I’m pleased that the faith we’ve put in him to come into the side has been proven today.”

Wright was unhappy, however, that striker Nigel Hasselbaink was booked after going down under a challenge from Aberdeen captain Russell Anderson.

He said: “I couldn’t really see it but it seems to be that it’s either a penalty or a dive these days, there’s no claims that aren’t a penalty but the player has just stumbled over or fallen over. I don’t think it was a dive but I’m not sure if it was a penalty or not.”