Dundee Utd 0 – 0 Aberdeen
SPL
17/10/20
Derek McInnes lamented the chances missed by his players as Aberdeen were held to a 0-0 draw at Tannadice against an inferior Dundee United side.
Aberdeen had the majority of the play racking up sixteen chances to United’s six.
The Dons also had a stonewall penalty denied them in the first half by referee Alan Muir when the ball seemed to strike the hand of former Aberdeen player Lawrence Shankland off a Ross McCrorie header.
United’s best chance to steal a win was a second half strike by Logan Chalmers which Joe Lewis kept out with his feet.
–Dons beat St Mirren with last gasp winner: reaction
McInnes: “We needed someone to step up”
Derek McInnes rued the chances his side missed as the Dons dominated United at Tannadice and did everything but stick the ball in the net.
McInnes said he would have been devastated if they had lost the match and everything about the day was good apart from the result.
McInnes told the BBC at full time: “We’ll play a lot worse and take three points this season.
“We weren’t ruthless enough with our chances. We needed somebody to step up and take ownership of the game.”
On the penalty Aberdeen were denied McInnes said it didn’t matter where the ball was going, it was a penalty.
McInnes said of McCrorie’s chance: “It looks as if it’s hit his hand and whether it’s going in or not it’s a handball.”
McInnes felt with the nature of the game and the fact Aberdeen were able to put so many balls into the box, the match was crying out for Sam Cosgrove.
“A team that has depended on Sam Cosgrove to score the majority of its goals, having Sam available today especially with us having that option to put in cross after cross, we put on Ryan Edmonson to try help with that matter but we’re disappointed we haven’t won all three points.”
Dundee United manager Micky Mellon wants more from his side in the future but was delighted to come away with a point.
Mellon said after the game: “It was a tough game which is what we expected.
“Individual errors in recent games have cost us valuable points but you could see the determination in the players today that that was not going to happen.
“In terms of the qualities we needed to dig us out a good point and clean sheet against a really good Aberdeen side, I couldn’t fault the players.”
Match recap
It’s good to see a return to the ‘New Firm’ derby in the Premier League with Aberdeen and Dundee United’s rivalry on the North East coast one of the highlights of the Scottish football calendar.
However circumstances are almost unrecognisable to the heyday of the 80s when both sides were challenging for honours.
This is particularly relevant in the case of United who suffered a four year absence from the SPL and only gained promotion back into Scotland’s premier competition at the end of last season.
The last league meeting between the two North East giants was in 2016. The last 0-0 draw; 2015.
It wasn’t exactly a bore draw with chances spurned by both sides, particularly Aberdeen who had sixteen chances to six against their New Firm rivals.
The closest Aberdeen came to scoring was in the first half with a flurry of chances falling to the Dons as United keeper Benjamin Siegrist worked overtime to keep his side in it.
Derek McInnes and his men will feel particularly hard done by considering they should have had a stonewall penalty half-way through the first half when former Dons player Lawrence Shankland seemed to stop a goal bound header by Ross McCrorie with his hand.
The draw isn’t a complete disaster with Aberdeen’s third place rivals Hibs being held 0-0 at Ross County. It means the Dons remain fourth, two points behind Hibs with two games in hand.
Special praise for the ‘Banchory Baresi’
Andrew Considine finally made his bow to the senior national scene, playing an integral part in Steve Clarke’s defence for two of the three fixtures during the October international break.
At 33, five hundred appearances and fifteen SPL campaigns, Considine has had to be patient in receiving the call from his nation.
When it came Considine was superb, slotting in as part of a back three which kept two clean sheets against Slovenia and the Czech Republic, helping Scotland take control of their Nations League group.
Unsurprisingly Dons’ boss Derek McInnes was full of praise for one of the most dependable performers during his tenure at Pittodrie.
McInnes said of Considine’s call up: “I know how much it means to big Andy. We’ve seen how consistently he’s performed for a while now.
“It was important he kept believing. (The call-up) coming at this stage of his career, it has probably been even more gratefully received.
“I am delighted Andy is now getting recognition from people outside and inside the club.”
St Mirren Motherwell off as Saints only have eight outfield players
St Mirren Motherwell was postponed today due to a covid outbreak in the St Mirren side.
It’s hard particularly on Steve Robinson and his team as Motherwell’s last two games have been cancelled due to covid restrictions.
Kilmarnock Motherwell was also postponed due to Kilmarnock being unable to have a team ready for the game at Rugby Park before the international break.
Whether today’s game will be replayed or Motherwell are handed the points is still to be decided by the SPFL.
The SPFL released a statement saying: “Due to a number of positive tests for covid-19 amongst their playing squad and coaching staff St Mirren have only twelve registered fit players, including four goalkeepers, available for today’s game against Motherwell. As a result, St Mirren are unable to fulfil today’s fixture.
“In line with standard procedure, the SPFL have postponed the match pending an investigation into the events at St Mirren.”
Result of the day: Celtic 0 – 2 Rangers
Rangers 2-0 win at a cavernously empty Celtic Park in the first Old Firm derby of the season extends the Gers’ advantage over their city rivals to four points, which means Steven Gerrard’s men take the outright lead in the SPL even though Celtic have a game in hand.
It was a tough afternoon for Neil Lennon as the Hoops’ boss sat forlornly looking over his covid-hit side get swept aside with two goals from Rangers’ Connor Goldson.
Celtic look to have a real challenge on their hands as they try to win an unprecedented ten league titles in a row.
Up next:
Tuesday evening Dons go to South Lanarkshire to play the rescheduled Premiership match against Hamilton that was postponed at the beginning of August. Kick-off 7pm.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 