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Reaction From Easter Road | Derek McInnes

02 February 2019
Author AFC Media Team

The Dons boss spoke with the media after the excellent win at Easter Road.

“The cups are really important for us and we’ve got a good cup tie next weekend, but the two league games prior with today and Rangers could both prove pivotal in terms of where we are. If you play teams in and around you in particular when there’s only 14 games to go there’s a benefit in winning those games. It’s an opportunity to do a bit of damage to teams in and around you and Rangers will be seeing that exactly the same.

“It’s a tough venue here and we’ve got a decent record over the years, but it’s never been anything other than tight games and fiercely competitive. I thought that was as comfortable as it’s been coming to Easter Road for a while. You kept waiting on Hibs throwing the kitchen sink and cracking up the pressure, but it never came. I know they are probably a bit in between with Neil losing his job, but I do feel we’ve had to work harder and defend better than what we had to today. It was a great response to losing a poor goal and I thought we were worthy of our lead at half time.

“We had Cosgrove and Lewis going off and that put a stretch on us. We were small at set plays and Cosgrove and Lewis going off takes a huge bit of height away from us in the penalty box. We stood up to that admirably and I thought we were only guilty of not putting the game to bed.

The penalty was a good save, but the work rate from the ones at the top with Wilson, May, Stewart, Mackay-Steven and Shinnie kept that intensity at the top end and kept Hibs away from where they could do damage. I don’t think Hibs caused us too many problems and we were just finding it more a challenge because we never took their chances.

“I’m hoping both Joe and Sam are fine for Wednesday. Joe’s got a nasty gash above his eye but he’s absolutely fine. The medical staff thought it was going to get stitched and it would take time, but Joe seems eager to play and we’ll see how he is. Sam’s has been the consequence of training on hard pitches with the weather and even maybe the other night at Stenhousemuir and his back went into a spasm. He felt it on Thursday but hopefully it’s something we can work on and deal with.

“As it stands McKenna and Devlin are going to probably be another week to ten days away, but we’ll see how we are. We’ve got a few patched up at the minute and because we had the midweek game we’ve not had a real chance to get on top of that. We now have another midweek game before the cup tie and it’s important we see who’s all fit for the game on Wednesday.

“I was pleased with how we defended for the majority. I thought Hoban was different class and only his second start in a long time. He strolled the game and was very influential alongside Considine. I thought James Wilson had his best game for us. I’ve said to him to not think about the missed chances because his speed, intelligence and work rate was everything I want from him. He really pleased me.

“I haven’t spoke to the Dr about Joe yet but he seems fine and I don’t think it’s anything too sinister. I’m hoping he’ll be fine for the game.”

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