News

News

Derek McInnes | "a very good performance"

24 December 2016

Derek McInnes

“A very good performance.

“A very hard working performance, very mature, there was a lot of experience out there and we made a lot of good decisions. There was a lot of good play and we counterattacked plenty of times. We carried a real threat from set plays. We could have scored more but I was delighted when Niall scored the third goal. It was a fantastic strike that sealed the three points.

“You are never comfortable at Fir Park. As much as we were controlling the game at 2-1 Motherwell are still a threat from set plays themselves. It just takes a lapse in concentration to allow them back in it.

“A very strong performance. I am delighted for my players. They work so hard day in day out and it is good to see them getting their reward with three points.

“It was a good response to conceding the equaliser. We are disappointed with the goal from our point of view. Ryan is off the pitch at the time and we don’t clear the ball from the box. Their right back throws it in from 30 or 40 yards and we are far too deep. I know the wind was holding it up at times and made it difficult at that end, as it did for Motherwell in the second half, but we have still to clear our box. As good a finish as it was from Scott McDonald, if he is making contact with it he should be 10 yards further out for me and I don’t think he would score from there.

“We were disappointed with that but the response was brilliant and I thought we thoroughly deserved all three points and as I say I am pleased for my players.

“We don’t get too high when we win. We don’t get too low when we get beat. We are fully aware that we are judged against Rangers and Celtic. For us to complete against them we need to do so much right. In our last six league games, it is now three wins, a draw and two defeats away from home. It was not terrible form. And I found it harsh on the team. Thankfully we don’t expose ourselves to some of the stuff that is written and said. We take it on board and accept it is part of the job. We just concentrate on our own work.

“It is a good away win for us and it is not easy to come play here. You have to make sure you fight toe to toe with Motherwell for they are a very well organised and motivated team with some good players.

“We are just thankful for the three points but we don’t get too carried away. We now prepare tomorrow for the Hamilton game.

“I have not seen the two penalty incidents back yet. I thought they were quite similar. I thought potentially both were soft. I thought with the Adam one there was a bit of contact from the goalkeeper when he knocks it past him. It looked as if Adam knew what he was trying to do and he felt the contact. We have been victims of that in the past ourselves. I can understand if they felt they were harshly done by but for me by the letter of the law it was probably a penalty but as I say I have not seen it so I am reluctant to say too much. The Reynolds one, Mark is adamant that he has stopped so there is not contact, he has slowed right down and he thought Lasley has run into him. So, I think maybe both were of the soft variety but thankfully we scored ours at the second attempt and thankfully Joe has saved there’s. It was a pivotal moment in the game. It could have made the second half a lot more difficult for us.

“In the end, I think we should focus on a very controlled, hard working second half performance.

“Big moments in the game, a good number nine and good goalkeeper is worth so many points to any team. Even when you don’t play well your keeper can make saves and likewise your striker can get goals. They are in key positions in the penalty box to make things happen for you. Joe has impressed again tonight but he has impressed from day one. He has been a brilliant addition for us.

“Niall (making his 200th appearance) was not really involved in the first half. We tried to get the ball out to him a bit more and get in between the lines. He is always a threat and he has so much quality. His set play delivery was excellent as well. He could have had plenty of assists but his finish is top drawer. He done that time and time again over those 200 games.

“In conditions like that you have to firstly defend. Motherwell turned us on a number of occasions by using the wind. We had to get pressure on the ball. I thought after the first 10-15 minutes we managed to do that. We spoke about the conditions and we did not want it to be a game where the ball was in the air too much. We wanted to try and get the ball down and play at the right times. I think our midfield three were excellent. Shinnie, McLean and Jack recognised when to play at the right times and when they needed to do the dirty side of the game.

“I am delighted we have managed to win a tough game.

“The games come thick and fast. We do our preparation tomorrow and we will also get along to the Hamilton game to watch that. We will know how Hamilton will play. They have not lost many games this season. They are very competitive and we need to be ready for that.”
 

Refresh