Derek McInnes
“I am delighted with the performance even although we found ourselves behind.
“It was a performance where the players took responsibility on the ball. That was really pleasing as I think it is something we have not done enough this season. We have not dominated the ball.
“We don’t have a lot of size about us. That is the trade off with that team that was picked today. We don’t have a lot of size and you saw that at the set plays. There was always going to be a huge concern at set plays and we lost two goals from them. That is probably where we were at our most vulnerable.
“As long as we kept the ball, worked the ball, I was always confident we would get enough opportunities.
“A 3-3 I don’t think any one of our players settled for that. It was all about trying to win the game. It does not matter if it was the fourth game of the season or the thirty forty game of the season. It is all about winning the game and I think it is something that has always been part of my Aberdeen teams.
“We have always had that mentality to go and win games, win tight games like that. Even although we have got new players it pleases me no end that they have still got that same characteristics and desire and confidence to go and win the game.
“Rooney helped us in both boxes. Ultimately he is there to do damage in the opposition box but he also gives us a bit more height and a bit dependability in our box at set plays. Adam has always been a big contributor for us over the years. None more so than today. I am delighted he read the flight of Ryan’s cross and managed to get that little flick into the far corner.
“It was no more than we deserved.
“I thought Thistle were good value today. I thought Alan set his team up to dominate possession and it looked as if it was about who could look after the ball better and bring that quality in the final third. I think we had that wee bit more quality in the final third to edge out a narrow victory.
“I do feel we deserved it.
“We went 4-4-2 and got Rooney up front alongside May and latterly Maynard. We have real options off the bench. I think what we have got this season is not like for like replacements. Sometimes we have suffered a little bit with that in terms of making changes with previous squads. I have the options and the capacity to change it about.
“Today the starting team was very attack minded but all players who can handle the ball. First and foremost, that is what we wanted to try and do. But then looking at the bench we did have options. We could put on Reynolds when we wanted to see the game out. We have Mackay-Steven there who is a different type of winger at times to Scott Wright. Rooney and Maynard are different types of strikers but both are capable of scoring goals.
“It is good we have those options.
“It felt like a big result. We trained hard all week. We prepare all week to win a game. When you don’t win there is no consolation even if we played well. I could have been sat here saying that if the game finished 3-3. There were little things we could do better but I was happy with the performance. Ultimately you don’t want to be watching others winning games. You have got to make sure you get your reward. We have said that to the players and they got the reward for all their efforts. There was some real quality with the goals but there was also some real endeavour and determination to make sure we won it.
“As I say it does not matter if it is the fourth game or the thirty fourth game when it gets to the crunch time at the end of the season. Every game is important and every game we go out to try and win. It has been a good start.
“We have always been a team that is capable of going on unbeaten runs. We said at the start of the season, we have five games domestically before the international break, we challenged the players – can we win four out of four in the league and get through to the last eight in the cup? Every game is a challenge. Nobody is just going to give us the points or the win.
“We have managed to do that and that is where we are. So I am really pleased with the initial start and hopefully we can pick up where we left off when we come back after the break when we play Hearts. There is no better time to go on an unbeaten run than at the start of the season. We are capable of that. Let just see if we can keep it going.
“I think Scott Wright has so much to his game.
“I think the confidence he has at the moment was shown by the fact he took the shot on. I think full back playing against him today (Nitriansky) went toe to with him at times and got really tight to him. But Scott ran him a few times and then everyone backs off. If you back off you Scott then has the ability to put that cross in, or make that final pass, or take that final shot on. Scott was just afforded too much space to take the shot on. But he still has to execute it and it is a top finish.
“He obviously likes this ground. He is becoming more and more of a confident player and his all round game is becoming better with every game he plays. He feels like a first team player now. He has had to watch McGinn and Hayes occupy those wide positions for a few years. There is no shame in not getting in ahead of those boys. He has now just turned 20 and I have said I feel this is going to be a big season for him. I think it is a season he is ready for.”
The manager also confirmed in his post-match press conference that there has been interest in Jayden Stockley who was not in the squad today.
“We are in talks with a club about Jayden. There might be a bit more to say about that at the beginning of the week. There may be something happening with that.”
