Derek McInnes reaction

“Disappointed with the first half performance, not in terms of commitment, just in terms of our quality and passing the ball- looking after it. I felt that on only 2 or 3 occasions in the first half did we move the ball with any real tempo and work it side to side. We spoke about the need to do that and I thought we caused our own problems at times. I thought that although the Dundee goal was really scrappy- it’s a scrappy deflection that lifts it over Jamie- you wouldn’t say that Dundee didn’t deserve their half time lead.

“We had work to do at half time. The change helped us; it certainly gave us a bit more balance down the left hand side. I thought young Nicky Low, although he wasn’t alone in giving us that real tempo and energy in the second half, certainly played his part in that.

“We spoke about that Dundee had a real cause today and as much as I want to dress it up as a manager and say there cause was bigger than ours today, I’m always learning about my players and I wanted to win the game. We came here and we prepared like we would do any game but we had to find a cause and make sure the motivation was there. And I felt that we were motivated enough to play. I thought the players were looking forward to playing in that kind of atmosphere.

“I just didn’t think we passed the ball well enough. I thought second half the change helped us- right from the outset we looked like a team that were going to score and certainly improve the standard of our play and I thought our tempo with and without the ball was excellent second half.

“We go down to 10 men, experienced player, Rory Fallon, no complaints with that. I’ve seen it. I think there was a wee bit before that- not sure how much is in it but something has certainly made him lash out and I just caught the end of it and saw Rory kick out. For me the officials got it spot on.

“That made the task harder but I think with 11 men we go on and win the game- I certainly felt that down that slope with the wind behind us and the tempo and manner we were playing- for me it’s a game we should have won. I said to the players at the end there that we put that game at risk by just not playing to the standard we are capable of and when we played at a tempo second half that we are capable of we look a good side. A bit more care and even with 10 men I think we can win the game.

“I think he [Niall McGinn] struck the penalty away brilliantly; he’s playing with a lot of confidence. He was probably in on goal if he took a better touch just before he came off- he had certainly worked hard. What a season he’s had and when you’ve got somebody in the form he’s in and you get a penalty kick, you are confident he’s going to tuck it away.

“I toyed with the thought of starting him [Nicky Low] today but I went with a more experienced team. I always thought there was a role for him to play, with Cammy Smith, and I thought with the nature of the game today it might be fighting fire with fire to start him. But he was always in my thoughts to start with him. Certainly, all you are looking for your young ones to show that kind of application and that type of performance because it makes you think twice when you go pick the next team.”

“I toyed with the thought of starting him [Nicky Low] today but I went with a more experienced team. I always thought there was a role for him to play, with Cammy Smith, and I thought with the nature of the game today it might be fighting fire with fire to start him. But he was always in my thoughts to start with him. Certainly, all you are looking for your young ones to show that kind of application and that type of performance because it makes you think twice when you go pick the next team.”

“I toyed with the thought of starting him [Nicky Low] today but I went with a more experienced team. I always thought there was a role for him to play, with Cammy Smith, and I thought with the nature of the game today it might be fighting fire with fire to start him. But he was always in my thoughts to start with him. Certainly, all you are looking for your young ones to show that kind of application and that type of performance because it makes you think twice when you go pick the next team.”