The manager’s reaction
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes hailed his players for their achievement of qualifying for Europe despite a 5-2 defeat at Celtic.
The Dons fell to doubles from Scott Brown and Kris Commons but Dundee United’s draw at Inverness ensured a top-three finish in the Scottish Premiership for the visitors.
Aberdeen’s lead over Motherwell was cut to a point but the League Cup winners are back on the European stage for the first time in five seasons.
“It’s brilliant,” McInnes said. “If you said at the start of the campaign we would have a cup in the bag and be back in Europe, we would all have been grabbing that.
“The players should be really pleased with their efforts and it’s testament to how hard they have worked this season. So that’s another box ticked and we’ve got two games now to grab second spot.”
However, McInnes looks likely to be without main striker Adam Rooney for the final games against Dundee United and Motherwell after he was taken off following a collision with Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
“I’ll need to double check but the assessment would probably be he is out for the season,” McInnes said. “He has strained his ligaments and has a lot of swelling on his ankle.”
McInnes admitted his side could have defended better but felt they were always in the game.
Niall McGinn cancelled out Brown’s opener and Shaleum Logan scored a wonderful goal after strikes from Brown and Anthony Stokes either side of the interval had put Celtic back in command.
And McInnes pondered what could have been if referee Iain Brines had awarded a 65th-minute penalty when Jonny Hayes went down under Efe Ambrose’s challenge.
“The pivotal moment in the game is without question at 3-2,” he said. “It’s a penalty kick. It’s not only a penalty kick, it’s last man for Ambrose and down to 10 men.
“I think Ambrose is a bit lazy with his defending, he gets square to the ball and sticks his leg out. He took a chance and for me it’s a penalty kick.
“Ultimately Celtic scored some good goals and had some good performances and have the quality to pick you off but I thought at 3-2 the momentum was with us.
“Effectively it could be 3-3 playing against 10 men and it’s game on. But we never, Celtic got the fourth goal, and we were a wee bit open at that stage because you are as well going forward and having a go.”
Celtic boss Neil Lennon was not convinced it was a penalty.
“At the time I didn’t think it was and having seen it again, it looks like has played for it,” Lennon said.
“I think Jonny has gone over the leg looking for it, but I have seen them given. But I don’t think that detracted from our performance, we could have scored a lot more.”
Commons was one player who came close on other occasions but had to be content with a double in the final quarter which took his tally for the season to 30 goals.
“It’s incredible for a player who is not an out-and-out centre-forward,” Lennon said.
“(Jamie) Langfield made a brilliant save from the chip as well, so there is creativity in the way he plays. His movement off the ball is fantastic and you always fancy him to score when he gets into those situations.
“It’s been a hell of a season for him, absolutely tremendous.”
Commons was playing at the front of a midfield diamond behind Stokes and Leigh Griffiths but found himself in a series of goalscoring positions.
“We do use the formation to accommodate Kris as best we can,” Lennon said.
“He is better centrally than on the wing, he is far more productive, because he can open teams up with a pass or change games with his finishing power as well. He has really delivered in that position.”
“He is better centrally than on the wing, he is far more productive, because he can open teams up with a pass or change games with his finishing power as well. He has really delivered in that position.”
“He is better centrally than on the wing, he is far more productive, because he can open teams up with a pass or change games with his finishing power as well. He has really delivered in that position.”
