Bosses take positives from stalemate at Pittodrie

Posted Sunday, May 06, 2018 by PA

Both managers were satisfied with a point after Aberdeen and Hibernian played out a goalless draw at Pittodrie.

The two sides are in a race to finish in the top three and secure European football, but it is the Dons who hold the advantage after fending off Hibs.

Jamie Maclaren missed a penalty in the opening 10 minutes and Niall McGinn crashed a free-kick against the bar, but there were few clear openings in a lively game that left both managers happy.

It was, however, a missed opportunity for Neil Lennon’s men, who are now two points adrift of Rangers in third.

“I’m delighted with our performance and the mentality of the team,” he said. “I thought we were strong and resolute when we had to be. We should have won the game with two great chances.

“I know Aberdeen hit the bar but their threat really was from set-plays which in the main we dealt with, but in the throes of the game I thought we were very good and very strong and we go back with a point when it could have been a bit better, but we never looked like losing the game.”

Maclaren’s missed penalty proved to be the crucial moment of the match, and it was an uncharacteristically tame attempt from the spot from a man who had scored in his previous two outings.

“It was a poor penalty from his point of view,” Lennon admitted. “He usually puts his laces through them and that would have got us off to a great start.”

McInnes agreed it was probably a fair point, which left his side needing a win on Wednesday night to secure a top-three finish.

He said: “It was two teams fully committed and there was a lot of speed and pace in both teams. That played its toll in the last 15 minutes when the energy went out of the game.

“Ten out of 10 for effort, not quite the same in terms of the quality and composure the game needed.

“There was a healthy regard from both teams. I think overall there is more than a tinge of disappointment that it was an opportunity missed, but we didn’t quite do enough to win it and likewise, I would say it’s similar from their point of view.”