He was outstanding again on Saturday, as he has been in many games late of for the Dons this season, heading clear anything that comes his way. Ash recently spoke to RedMatchday Magazine:
I’D LIKE TO PUT BEFORE THE COURT AND JURY HERE AT PITTODRIE THE CASE FOR THE DEFENCE. BECAUSE IT’S MY CONTENTION THAT FOR ALL THE PUBLICITY THAT GOES TO THE GOALSCORING EXPLOITS OF THOSE UP FURTHER UP THE PITCH, THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH ABERDEEN’S IMMENSE POST-CHRISTMAS RUN OF FORM HAS BEEN BUILT HAS BEEN THE WAY THE MEN AT THE BACK HAVE STOOD UP TO THE CHALLENGE AND LET LITTLE OR NOTHING PAST THEM.
Let’s call on Ashton Taylor to give evidence shall we?
“I think the defence has played an important part in the good run we are on. It is not just about the defenders though, we have been good defensively as a team, right from the front. I think the work rate of all the lads has been brilliant. Everyone wants to put a shift in for the team.
“For example, late in games when we have been protecting a lead, the forward players work tirelessly to stop balls coming into the box. The whole team’s defensive shape has also been good.
“It is good to have a sound defensive base because if we are keeping clean sheets, we will win more often than not because we can score goals from all sorts of areas. You are more than likely to win games if you are solid.
“At the back, I have a really good understanding with Mark. We have built up a good partnership over the years. It is good to have that partnership in the back four, because you can read the way each other plays and what we are likely to do in any situation. That is only going to benefit the team.
“The partnership involves me heading the ball and getting involved in any aerial battles whilst he protects his looks! To be fair, we cover each other. As everyone knows, Mark is fast. He has a decent burst of speed on him and very few players are going to beat him for pace. Any balls into the channels, if I am going for them, he will cover in behind but it is still important for me to go and try and win all my headers.
“On a personal level, I am really enjoying my football. Is it the best form of my career? I would say so, yes. I am getting a bit more consistency in my game now. I am cutting out the little mistakes. That is what my focus has been, to do my job and put in a consistent performance week in week out.
“All the defenders are playing to form though, right across the back. Andrew and Shay have been really consistent all season. When we can do that, it means that the team is able to put runs together like we have. It is good to be in that type of form. The confidence is high throughout the whole team”.
As we discussed in the Hearts edition, Joe Lewis has made a huge contribution to the Dons’ defensive record this term too, bringing some vitally stability to things as Taylor agrees.
“Joe has made a massive difference this season. Like Danny Ward when he played here last season, he never stops communicating. He commands his box and comes for crosses. That is a big thing, especially when he comes and claims one in the final minutes of a game. It settles everyone down and knocks the confidence out of the other team when they are pushing for a goal. It is so good for us to have that confidence in our goalkeeper”. What is very obvious about the Dons’ defenders is that they simply detest conceding goals. Let one in and there’s a lengthy inquest in the dressing room afterwards. It’s a question of maintaining good habits, setting the highest possible standards and never taking those levels for grated, nor letting them slide.
“We are in training every day and we do work together as a unit. We rotate between all the defenders in the squad, so we all have an understanding and we all know our jobs.
“Anthony did well at the start of the season when he came into the side. He was unfortunate to miss out because we were on such a good run. For him to come back into the side and just really continue the form from where he left off, it speaks volumes for him as a player and for us as a unit. It also highlights the strength of the squad when you have someone like Anthony who can come in and not look out of place right from the first minute”. We live in a culture that increasingly demands excitement, thrills and instant gratification, hence so many sides are being built from the front. Take a look at the Champions League any week you like and you’ll see lots of goals, some very good ones at that. But don’t look too closely at the defending, not if you want to sleep at nights…
“Football is changing. The art of defending has certainly changed in more recent years and a lot of sides are now playing out from the back. Teams are maybe therefore looking at playing players in defence who can do that, who are comfortable on the ball rather than out and out stoppers. They are also looking for goalkeepers who can do the same. A lot of the focus is on playing football.
“As a defender, I believe first and foremost I need to win my headers, my tackles, clear the ball – if you keep clean sheets then I am doing my job. If I get the chance to play the ball out then great, but you are not there to be a flair player, especially in our team. We have the likes of Kenny, Jacko and Shinnie in midfield and then Jonny and Niall who can do all that. They are the flair players. It is my job to keep the door shut.
“There has to be a balance. Sometimes you have to do the ugly stuff. It does not look great kicking a ball into the stand when you clear your lines, but sometimes it has to be put there. As a player you learn from your mistakes. If you try and take the ball down every time, eventually you will get caught and it could cost your team a goal. You have know when to play and when not to. That only comes with experience”.
If there has been a criticism of the Dons in the league over the last couple of seasons, it’s that our post-split form has tended to be a bit patchy. Around the camp now though, you can sense a real determination to finish this campaign as strongly as possible.
“The last two seasons our finishes have been a bit ragged after being secure in second spot. Things fizzled out a bit. This season, there is still a lot to play for, there is still a battle to secure second place and we have a Scottish Cup semi-final to play.
“I think the winter break has helped us, I have no doubts about that. Coming back so early in the summer, a break at new year was really needed. With the squad we have, players can be given a rest if needed, so physically we are always in top shape, but mentally you do need to get away from the game for a while.
“The past two season I think we have been tired towards the end, but more mentally. It is a long season when you don’t have a break. This season, we are feeling a lot fresher. Most of us have have just come off the back of another international break too, so we are feeling good as we head into the final part of the season with so much still to play for.
“I think freshening up as we did in January is important in this country because the pitches do get tough in the second half of the season because of the weather, they can get heavy and that is tiring too.
“The past few month have been difficult with the pitches, especially for us as we have ball carriers like Jonny, Niall and Ryan Christie. They like to run with the ball and it is difficult for them, the ball is bobbling about all over the place.
“Sometimes you need to take that extra touch and by doing that it slows the play down and allows your opponent to get closer to you. So once again we have done very well to come through the winter months with the record that we’ve had.
As Shay revealed in a programme interview recently, there is competition amongst the defenders to see who scores the most goals at the end of a season.
“I think Shay has now got two more goals than me! He keeps getting on at me about it. I have not scored for a while so I must be due one! To be fair though, Shay is in the box a lot more often than me!
“If the ball is right and the timing of the run is right, I do back myself to get on the end of them, and I am confident every time I go in the box. Sometimes you just need a bit of luck”.
Things are going just as well off the pitch as on it after Ash became a dad recently.
How has that changed life for him?
“All the lads in the changing room who have children have said how hard it is and say you don’t realise until you become a father. I was like, “Whatever!” But when she was born, I very quickly understood what they were saying!
“Nothing can prepare you for it. Fair play, my wife has done a great job and got her into a routine. Lucky for us, she sleeps.
At the start it was very hard getting into a routine and having to wake up in the middle of the night.
“It is hard, it is life changing but it is the best thing ever. It puts football into perspective. I know people say football is so important, but when you have a kid you realise what is important in life. Any fathers or mothers reading this will understand. You realise football is just a game.
“It takes the stress out of it in a way. It does not mean though you are any less determined to do well – you want to do even better if anything. You want to do everything you can in your job so you can give your little one the best possible life”.
“It takes the stress out of it in a way. It does not mean though you are any less determined to do well – you want to do even better if anything. You want to do everything you can in your job so you can give your little one the best possible life”.
