Barry Robson spoke to Andrew Shinie after the U18 league game against Celtic at Cormack Park on Friday night. A very young Dons side went two goals up before finding themselves 3-2 behind and down to ten men after Alfie Bavidge was harshly sent off on the hour mark. The striker was outstanding up to that point. Despite this Aberdeen dominated the closing stages and got a deserved draw when captain Finn Murray scored a terrific late equaliser. As well showing great character the players produced tremendous fitness levels and Barry was rightly very proud of his side.

“I thought the boys were outstanding.

“We have a few players missing, some of the older players. We took some of the younger ones up and I was so pleased with their performances tonight, I thought they played really well. They stood up to a good Celtic team and showed a lot of character which is extremely important.

“We played two up top against their two centre backs and we could have been three or four up in that first half. Celtic struggled to cope but after that they came back into the game. We have to remember that they are a good side and I knew that we would never have complete control of the game. But the most pleasing thing for me was again, as we have done against all the good teams this season we have come up against, we played we a real intensity and made it a real game. It was a proper game of football and I enjoyed watching it.

“Young players will make individual mistakes. We know that. What is important is that they learn and don’t keep making the same mistakes. They will learn from it and the mistakes will become less and less and that is when they will develop into good players.

“When we went down to ten men, that is what Aberdeen Football Club should be. The character we showed, that should be a given. That is the way the great teams in the past have played. I am proud of them for doing that, but I told them afterwards, that is the way they should play as an Aberdeen player every week.

“Young Cammy Wilson was outstanding, did really well tonight. It was a big ask for him to come into the game, I thought he was really really good. He has only just turned 15 and he is playing for the U18s. That is great for the kid.

“We have taken a few defeats this season, and we are going to take more but I am excited about what next year will bring and the year after. We always knew this season would be tough as we have a very young squad but it has also been a enjoyable year when you see some of the younger ones coming through and that is what it is all about at this level.”