After an impressive 3-0 victory over FK Ventspils Derek McInnes spoke to the media. The Dons boss was pleased with “a very strong committed performance” which sets the side up nicely for a trip to Latvia next week.

Happy with that one in the end?
 
“Very happy. Total contrast to last week when we were disappointed. The players gave absolutely everything tonight, they played with their hearts, heads and intensity. We really got on top of the opposition early on and the only thing we were really looking for from that first 20 minutes was that there was enough intensity against the ball, but we needed to be less safe in possession.
 
“There might have been a little bit of caution sussing the opponents out, but once we took that caution out of our possession game, we started being braver in the passing with longer passes, better first touches and sharper getting into those little areas. We finished the first half really strong and should have maybe made more of maybe 1 or 2 opportunities. But we really got on top of the Latvians, who are a team who normally get a lot of control in games and have a lot of possession and are normally good with what they do with it, so we know we had to get on top of them.
 
“We went with the team that we did due to this. It was always our intention to get another striker on to get someone closer to Rooney in the second half. Once we had knocked the stuffing out of them physically, I think that we started to be a bit more direct and cause them a lot of problems. There is no doubt the introduction of Jayden helped, but I actually think that the defensive concentration, the work going on at the sides to stop crosses coming into our box, midfield making sure they got on top of them, all made it a very strong committed performance.”
 
Was it a big mental test after what happened last week?
 
“I don’t think so. The players have been there before in terms of being disappointed and having to react. Not often has there been a performance like last week, but I think there was a collective feeling from us all that last week’s performance wasn’t us, today was more like us. Having an attacking threat and good organisation with the work-rate to stop the opposition first and foremost was there in spades. Last week was difficult to look people in the eye, I think that every one of those players can hold their head high as they’ve done very well tonight.”
 
Your substitutions worked well tonight, you couldn’t have asked for a better impact?
 
“Jayden is a very good penalty box striker with his ability to cause problems physically. It allows us to get McGinn and Hayes really stretched out and we try to get crosses in the box. Jonny’s cross in was magnificent with a great shape. That’s where Jayden wants the ball played for him and Rooney’s goal is equally impressive. It’s sharp and typical Rooney. Then Wes coming on and scoring with his first touch. He gets up really well ahead of the big centre forward, leaps well above his height and steers the header in. I thought 3-0 was a fairer reflection on the game, given how relentless we were with our work in the second half.”
 
“Why did you decide to bring Wes Burns here? Is he someone you knew before?
 
“Yeah I gave him his first professional contract! He’s somebody I knew from a young age. From an early age he was always physically in good nick and ahead of his years, he had good pace and strength about him. He was one of the younger ones at the time with Joe Bryan and Bobby Reid who we thought would go on and have good careers. Wes has been on loan at a few teams who have been struggling at the bottom end of the table and sometimes that’s difficult for a young forward player. He can play in wide areas and across the front. It now gives us real good options across the top end of the pitch and he will be a good addition for us I have no doubts about that.”
 
7 new guys have come in now – are you hoping to bring in many more?
 
“When it’s this early on in the window you can never say never, but I’m happy with the way the squad has shaped up. We have managed to make some changes, but it was changes that were needed for some of the younger ones to get their loan moves and hopefully come back closer to being a regular here. We’ve lost Willo. It’s not easy to lose good people, Willo has been great for me and we wish him well. There has been a natural change. I thought we needed to freshen things up and those changes indicate that. We have a strong squad and results, injuries and form will dictate whether we do anymore before the end of the window.”