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Aberdeen FC: McInnes tells players ‘time to relax’

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has told his players it is time to relax as he bids to stop the rot at Pittodrie.

An excellent eight-game winning start to the season has come unstuck in spectacular fashion with four defeats in a row.

The three league losses and League Cup exit have become a cause for concern at Pittodrie but McInnes believes his players are in danger of letting anxiety take over in their haste to get the club back to winning ways.

The Dons manager believes a lack of composure at Ross County on Friday was a major factor in his side’s 2-0 loss to the Staggies.

McInnes said: “We were too anxious against County and were rushing in at times when it was time for a little bit more composure.

“There is a willingness in the dressing-room to make things better and I’m confident we will do that.

“We didn’t get carried away when we were winning every week and we’re not going to get too down after another defeat but we recognise the importance of getting back to winning ways and the Motherwell game cannot come quickly enough.”

The Dons manager believes the goals his side lost were avoidable and with 11 goals conceded in the four-match losing run it is not hard to see which area is in need of improvement.

He said: “We went with a back four in the first half but we looked more settled and balanced with a back three in the second half. However, we were caught on the counter for the second goal.

“It’s not just luck – I’m not going to hide behind luck. But when we’ve had things going for us earlier in the season, when we were winning game after game, we got wee bounces of the ball and little breaks.

“I don’t think we’re quite getting that now. On Friday I felt we maybe deserved a wee bit more for our efforts.

“We need to lick our wounds as it is a sore one to take. We created chances and were knocking on the door but we’re not helping ourselves with the goals we are losing.”

Dons captain Ryan Jack missed the defeat due to illness but McInnes expects to have the midfielder available for Saturday’s game against Motherwell at Pittodrie.

He said: “Ryan was in the team before we travelled but he started feeling ill when we got to the hotel on Thursday.

“He had sickness through the night and was struggling.

“Ryan was up against it on the morning of the game, so we made a call on it. Hopefully, we will have our captain back for Saturday.”