ABERDEEN made heavy weather of their opening Ladbrokes Premiership match of the new season against Hamilton on Sunday having only returned from the oppressive heat of Cyprus two days earlier.
Derek McInnes’s side passed up a raft of scoring chances after Anthony O’Connor had given them the lead midway through the first half and it took a late Miles Storey goal late on to kill off the challenge of opponents who have once again been tipped by many to be relegated and secure all three points.
Yet, Greg Tansey feels both the performance and result proves the club he joined from Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the summer is capable of finishing second in the Premiership for the fourth season running.
Tansey was one of four changes McInnes made to his starting line-up in the wake of the Europa League exit to Apollon Limassol on Thursday night; Kari Arnason, Nicky Maynard and Scott Wright were also drafted in as Gary Mackay-Steven, Mary Reynolds, Greg Stewart and Jayden Stockley were rested.
The English midfielder, whose free-kick into the visitors’ box set up O’Connor in the first half, feels that proves the Pittodrie club, who take on Hamilton away in the Betfred Cup tomorrow night, have the resources they need to cope with what will be a punishing league programme.
“It shows the strength in depth we have,” he said. “There is competition for places all over the pitch. That will only stand us in good stead throughout the season. There are plenty of options for the gaffer. It keeps everyone on their toes. There are a lot of players who can fill in and do various jobs.
“It is a new team. There are a lot of players gelling to the squad. Over the course of the coming months I can see that definitely helping us, when we all get to know each other’s games. But the early signs are it’s going to be good.
“It was good to bounce back from the European defeat. It had been a long week with a lot of travelling. That probably showed. Our energy levels weren’t quite what they should have been. It was only natural really with the week we’d had. We played a lot of football, travelled. I think the main thing was to get the three points. That is what we did.
“We made it hard for ourselves. I think we could’ve been out of sight in the first half. When you’re not, it gives them opportunities. They had a few opportunities. Joe (Lewis) has pulled off top saves, as he always does. I think all in all it was a job done.
“We have got a cup competition on Wednesday against Hamilton again. We know that won’t be easy, but I think the only way to deal with a disappointment like that is to bounce back on the pitch. As I said, the energy levels weren’t as they should be with the travelling we had done. But it was all about bouncing back and getting points on the board. That is the only way to bounce back from any loss.
“Every time we play we look to pick up three points. We feel with our squad and the size of this club that we should be competing at the top end definitely.”
Tansey had only started one game – the first leg of the Europa League double header against Siroki Brijeg of Bosnia last month – before Sunday but he is confident he can feature regularly as he becomes more comfortable in his new surroundings and familiar with his new team mates.
“I have found that when you join a new club it takes a couple of weeks to get used to the place, get used to the new players and bed yourself in,” he said. “That is definitely what I intend to do, that is what I can bring to the team, assists and a few goals.
“I will try to play my part on the ball and off the ball. Any player wants to play and be a first team regular. Obviously, that is what I intend to do.”
Scott Wright, the talented young Aberdeen winger who turned 20 today, was another of those to be handed a start by McInnes at the weekend and he once again impressed greatly with a lively display on the left flank.
Tansey fully expects Wright, who netted a hat-trick against Partick Thistle in the final league game of last season, to become increasingly influential in the coming weeks and months following the departure of both Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn.
“He was brilliant,” he said. “He is just one of those players who excites you every time he gets the ball. He has got that youthful, fearless approach to it. He wants to get at people and cause defenders problems. We see it in training every day. His performance was no surprise to the lads.”
The 28-year-old knows that Hamilton, who defeated Aberdeen twice at the Superseal Stadium last season, will be difficult to overcome in the Betfred Cup tomorrow due to their physical approach to the game.
“That’s what Hamilton bring to the table, that’s what they’re good at,” he said. “Every team has a different make up to them and Hamilton certainly work hard for each other and put themselves about. That is how they stay in the league. Hamilton away, on their pitch, isn’t an easy place to go. But, as a team, we feel we should be going anywhere and dominating.”
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