what the managers said
Aberdeen manager Craig Brown admits he is concerned by his side’s struggle to find the net after they racked up a sixth goalless draw of the season against Motherwell – all of them coming at Pittodrie.
Brown admitted “It’s the story of the season here. I can count six scoreless draws, and in all but one I think we were the better team. We know the problem, and if you know the problem, the remedy is there for you.
“As we’re past the transfer deadline it might take until next season to remedy the situation. Someone else to score goals would put us in a really good position. We’re missing chance upon chance, and it’s really disappointing.”
Brown feels his side are nevertheless performing well, and battled hard against a Motherwell side who lie second in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
“We can see the team are playing well enough and defending well. I think Motherwell are the second best team in the country, and we’ve played well against them – that’s three draws against them here this season.”
Brown’s side face Celtic next week with their hopes of a top-six finish still in the balance, but the Dons boss feels they are still in with a shout.
“It’s still very much alive,” he continued. “You sometimes get points when you least expect them, as Ross County proved today. I’m not saying we’re going to beat Celtic, but we won’t go to Celtic Park thinking we’ll come away with nothing.
“While there’s a mathematical chance, we’ll still be fighting. We’re playing well enough – if we could just buy a goal – to be in the top six.”
Motherwell’s Stuart McCall focused on the positives as his side maintained second place in the SPL and all but sealed their place in the top six ahead of the league split.
He said “I thought the first half was a really poor game. There wasn’t much goalmouth incident until Darren Randolph’s really good save just before half time.
“We don’t get many clean sheets so we’re delighted with that one today. We’ve taken four points from two tough away games, which we’re pleased with.”
McCall felt his side could have had a late penalty when substitute Zaine Francis-Angol went down under the challenge of Joe Shaughnessy.
He continued: “On another day we might have had a penalty kick, but it would have been rough justice on Aberdeen if we had got it and scored it. The most we deserved today was a point.
“Shaughnessy tried to get a foot on the ball and I don’t think he got a touch, but he brought our player down.
“It was a gritty performance. We didn’t really enjoy the game, but we enjoyed the point. We’re more than pleased with the point because Aberdeen came on strong in the second half.
“The point almost cements us in the top six which was the main aim at the start of the season.”
“The point almost cements us in the top six which was the main aim at the start of the season.”
“The point almost cements us in the top six which was the main aim at the start of the season.”
