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McInnes | "We won all our battles all over the pitch"

30 April 2016

DEREK MCINNES:-
 
“I’m delighted with the performance today. I think, to cement second spot with three games to go pleases me.

“There’s been a lot of talk about other teams trying to get second spot so it’s pleasing to see off that challenge and to do it so convincingly with a brilliant performance.

“The last time we played at home – against Hamilton – it was a sparkling display with real intent and I thought today was even better against a good team who don’t always let you get it your own way.

“We had to be defensively smart, we had to fight individual battles. Last week as a team I felt we lost out on every department.

“I thought we got on top of our opponent and won all of those battles throughout the pitch today. That pleases me, as well as the four goals.

“There are so many positives to take from today’s game on a day that could have been seen as a real disappointment to some.

“It’s recognition to the players on how hard they’ve worked.

“We’ve got five points to get over the last three games to beat last season’s tally, to again beat an SPFL record out with the Old Firm for points amassed and that’s what we’ll try and do for the last three games.

On Adam Rooney’s contribution to the game…

“To score on his one hundredth appearance is really appropriate. Obviously I’d rather focus on that than on the fact he’s had to back off again. He felt his thigh slightly.

“It was nothing he did specifically, it was just tightening up. Hopefully we got him off in time.

“If we need to rest him between now and the end of the season then that’s what we’ll have to do.

“Just because of the Simon Church injury it’s important we don’t make a bad decision on Adam. We’ve got to make sure now we think of getting him ready for pre-season and the European campaign.

“To make his one hundredth appearance, to have so little game time and still get his goal it says everything about him.

“I brought Simon Church in in January to play with Adam. Any time they’ve played on the same pitch they’ve scored goals.

“Rooney has been so vital to us since he signed.

“Hopefully it’s nothing too serious for either of the boys, but I would have to say they’d certainly be doubtful for the rest of the season.”
 

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