Aberdeen’s Development Squad rounded off their pre-season training camp in Spain with a tremendous 1-1 draw against English League One side, Southend United. Paul Sheerin’s very young side have been working hard in Alicante this week an Erasmus+ funded pre-season trip and the match with the Southend senior squad completed a tough week in preparation for the new season.

Amadou Ba opened the scoring for The Seasiders, but Miko Virtanen equalised in the second half to earn a very credible draw.

After the match Paul Sheerin spoke to afc.co.uk

“I am very pleased with them.

“In the first half we went 1-0 down but did ok in terms of our shape and getting back behind the ball. We were maybe just lacking a little bit going forward. So I put two up top in the second half and we managed to get a goal that our play deserved. We actually could have gone on and won the game. David Dangana had a chance, Lewis Duncan who did well when he came on rounded the keeper but just failed to find the net and Conor Power had a half chance.

“Southend to be fair were the better team in the first half without creating too many clear cut chances. We swap David and Archie in goal at half time and right at the start of the second half Archie made a good save. If Southend had scored that, it could have been a longer afternoon than it was. But we found our feet in the second half and we were very positive with our work which was good.

“Miko took his goal very well. He won possession in the middle of the park, played a one two with Kieran Shanks, before getting in behind their defence and then tucked it away with his left foot.

“The players worked extra hard today to get a result and against a very good side. That work ethic they now need to take into every game, no matter who you are playing. That same work ethic should be a given. What they showed today effort wise should never go away. Yes there will be games where they don’t play well, but if they give as much effort as they give today it will stand them in good stead going forward.

“All the lads have worked really hard in training as well. I am glad the way it went today because it finished off a very good fortnight on a really positive note.

“We fly back tomorrow morning. The players will then have the day off and then we will get back into it on Friday.

Aberdeen Team:

1. Craddock (Mair 45), 2. Power (Strachan 50), 3. MacKenzie (McLaughlan 70), 4. Chesser (Barry 60), 5. Robertson, 6. Roscoe (Turner 70), 7. Linden (Shanks 45), 8. Virtanen, 9. Dangana (Duncan 70), 10. E Ross (Barron 75), 11. Antoniazzi (Chicken 75).

Southend Team:

1. Oxley, 2. Demetriou, 3. White, 4. Lennon, 5. Hendrie, 6. Batlokwa, 7. Dieng, 8. Hyam, 9. McLaughlin, 10. Cox, 11. Ba.

Subs: Bishop, Bwomono, Turner, Kyprianou, Coker, Kightly, Mantom, Klass, Barratt, Robinson, Hopper.