ABERDEEN’S players have been adamant the near constant speculation about the future of their manager in the past six weeks has not been responsible for their dramatic slump in form.
Yet Derek McInnes turning down the opportunity to move to Rangers on Thursday, much to the surprise of many in Scottish football has certainly seemed to have given them a considerable lift.
The Pittodrie club edged to a narrow 1-0 win over Dundee at Dens Park last night to move three points ahead of their Ibrox rivals, who take on Ross County at home this afternoon, and into second place outright in the Ladbrokes Premiership table.
It was by no means the best display they have produced under McInnes and their opponents, who arguably enjoyed the better of the game and created the better scoring chances, could feel aggrieved not to have something, even a point, to show for their efforts at the end of the 90 minutes.
But winning away from home is definitely a step in the right direction for Aberdeen - who had taken just seven points out of a possible 18 since Pedro Caixinha was sacked by Rangers back in October - and they will hope better is to come in the weeks ahead.
The disappointing run the north-east club has been on has not been what their followers have come to expect in the four years which McInnes has spent in charge.
The 46-year-old admitted that this spell has not been helped by the uncertainty which has surrounded his position, but he stressed that he will be looking for far better now that the matter had been put to bed once and for all.
“It has been a challenge for everyone over the last wee while,” McInnes told Red TV. “I had something to consider because when in life you are deemed to be doing well then you normally get interest, offers or decisions to make.
“But I wasn’t prepared to walk away just yet, I am really happy here as everyone knows. And I wasn’t prepared to tarnish relationships I have built here over the last wee while.
“The focus should be on the football now and hopefully everything settles down. Since the official approach was made on Tuesday, we quickly put it to bed by Thursday.”
A number of Aberdeen fans made some fairly vile remarks about McInnes on Twitter and assorted internet message boards this week after it emerged that he was taking time to reflect on the official approach from Rangers and consider his next step.
The confirmation that he would be staying, though, caused them to quickly change their tune. They certainly hailed their manager like a returning hero as he came out of the tunnel at Dens Park last night before kick-off.
They 2,043-strong travelling support in the Bob Shankly Stand rose as one to applaud him and he returned the compliment by clapping them as he jogged along the touchline to his technical area.
The Aberdeen fans have certainly revelled in the failure of Rangers to lure their manager back to his former club and their glee was obvious after the game got underway.
“Concomitant You Reds,” read one hastily put together banner in a clear reference to the risible statement which their opponents had put out after being publicly thwarted in their attempt to land their preferred candidate.
But McInnes, whose side went into the game on the back of back-to-back defeats to, ironically enough, Rangers, wasn’t smiling as he watched Aberdeen’s play during the first half.
Aberdeen were desperately flat with perhaps only Ryan Christie earning pass marks. They were fortunate not to fall behind and had their goalkeeper Joe Lewis to thank for keeping them on level terms. He saved well from Roarie Deacon twice in the opening 45 minutes.
McInnes took action a half-time by removing young midfielder Frank Ross, putting on experienced centre half Kari Arnason and moving Anthony O’Connor into a more advanced position. His changes had an immediate impact and the visitors edged in front three minutes after the restart.
Kenny McLean picked out Scott McKenna inside the Dundee area and the young centre half prodded a shot beyond Elliott Parish and into the bottom left corner of goal. It was his first goal for the Pittodrie club.
Graeme Shinnie should perhaps have made sure of the victory with nine minutes remaining when he broke through on goal. But the the captain squandered the chance. He gifted Parish an easy save with a tame shot. His team held on to end what has been quite a week on a high.
“It’s important to get back to winning games and having the focus on the team," said McInnes. "I think the team have got off lightly not winning games when the focus is on myself.
"But we want to get back to winning matches now and that’s where the focus is. We want people speaking about a winning Aberdeen team, nothing else.
“People assume they know me and they think there must be a reason when we don’t win games. But I actually feel the performances could be a lot better and we now have to get back to what we’re capable of."
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