Derek McInnes
“A good night’s work.
“I would say the intensity with the ball and without the ball was clear from minute one.
“We scored two very good goals and I thought we passed up a couple of good opportunities in both halves to add to that. We had fourteen shots and I thought we played with a lot of intelligence as well as the intensity. What we did tonight and what we didn’t do at Tynecastle, was play with intelligence, play in the wider areas and players who carry the ball like Shinnie, Shay, Mackay-Steven and McGinn were active in the game. We tried to get on the outside of their wingbacks and outside of Soutter and Berra and I thought we executed that side of it very well. Everybody played their part. They’re a team renowned for not losing too many goals, but I thought we created plenty of chances and thankfully we managed to score two very good goals and get the thoroughly deserved three points.
“They changed their shape and went 4-3-1-2 and tried to suck our centre halves out so we just adjusted to that and put that fire out. I still thought we had good moments in the game and maybe could have taken care of that in the last part, but it didn’t need to be exciting in the second half. The job was done and there’s no doubting that we’re 22 points clear of Hearts in the league and it showed tonight.
“You see when we get key players back the influence.
“Even last week it was a tough away game at Kilmarnock and we got McLean, Logan and Shinnie back into the team and we looked a different animal. There’s not many teams that can cope without five starters. McGinn and Mackay-Steven were not fit to start the semi-final so that was a lot of key players, but I don’t doubt the character of the team.
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes issues instructions (photo SNSGroup)
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes issues instructions (photo SNSGroup)
“It’s another clean sheet, defensively we are always pretty sound. Midfield wise I would take our midfield against anybody at times as we always compete well enough in there. When our forward players play to form and when they carry a threat and when the wide players produce what they produced tonight we normally win games.
“Thankfully Cosgrove and May were a constant handful with their movement, size and presence. McGinn and Mackay-Steven as I said earlier I thought imposed themselves on the game and took the game to Hearts and behind that there was loads of effort, work rate and intelligence so it’s great to win the last two games. 2-0 win at Kilmarnock, 2-0 again tonight and when you’ve got your key players back and in form we are a tough game to beat.
“I don’t really buy into the psychology side of it. For now we are ahead of them (Hibs and Rangers) when you look at the league table, but they’ve still got to play their games. It’s just important with each cycle of games that we don’t lose any ground and hopefully our results are better than the teams around about us. It’s unusual that the three teams involved for second spot that it’s all in their own hands. It shows you how well the split works. We’re now effectively playing cup football through the league and that’s what it feels like. It’s exciting and we’re glad to be right in amongst it.
“It’s three points added to our total tonight.
“Sam Cosgrove did very well. It’s been tough for big Sam and he wasn’t intended to be signed in January as it was more for the summer, but we took advantage of getting a deal done with Carlisle. He is still a young player in terms of his football education. He was a good option for us in terms of bringing something different like you seen tonight, and he’s been desperate to play his part. “Hopefully people remember that than focus on his debut, which was a disappointing afternoon for him, but he’s been eager to play his part. We’ve got a lot of technical players and smaller players and sometimes that size and presence brings a bit of balance to the team and he played his part tonight.
“I thought if Hearts want to play deep sometimes you can’t play through them with the numbers and you have to play round them and I thought we did that effectively tonight and that’s why Sam was important for us.
“I think McKenna and O’Connor have done very well when they have playing together this season. I’ve had to at times put O’Connor into centre midfield for certain games because at times we’ve not had those midfield options. With the two of them together they’ve normally come up with a decent level of performance.”
