Barry Robson thinks it is too early to panic at Aberdeen despite loss at Hearts

Posted Sunday, September 17, 2023 by PA

Aberdeen manager Barry Robson insists there was no need to panic despite the Dons being left joint-bottom of the cinch Premiership following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Hearts.

The visitors failed to build on a bright start at Tynecastle and ultimately came away with nothing as Hearts eased to the victory courtesy of goals from Yutaro Oda and Liam Boyce.

The travelling Aberdeen fans also made their feelings clear at full-time ahead of their team’s opening Europa Conference League group clash at Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

Asked if it was too early to panic over the sight of Aberdeen being joint bottom alongside St Johnstone, Robson, who handed a debut to defender Stefan Gartenmann, said: “I think so. When you look at where we were as a club last year, we’ve had a difficult start.

“I think that’s the first time we’ve had all the players who we’ve tried to sign all in. You can see a bit of that. But listen, even with that, we still need to try and get results.

“I’m honest enough and smart enough to know that you need results even with the hard start, a lot of away games.”

Asked about the fans’ reaction, Robson added: “100 per cent (I understand their reaction). We want to win football matches. I think they know that.

“We are a work in progress. That was a whole new back five, we tried to change it at half-time, but you could see a lack of cohesion with us.”

Oda put Hearts ahead in the 14th minute when his deflected drive beat Kelle Roos and Liam Boyce doubled the home team’s lead in the 64th minute.

Boyce was left with an easy tap-in after Roos was forced into a save at his near post when Calem Nieuwenhof’s cross deflected off Jamie McGrath.

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith was thrilled with the way his team handled the game.

He said: “It was a really good afternoon. In one respect we needed the break mentally to reset and take stock. In the European games the performances had been good, but the challenge is when you come into domestic games, you must win and we never dealt with that well enough.

“In the games I’ve been in charge of, it’s probably the most comfortable I’ve been at the end of a game when it is still alive with it being 2-0.”