McInnes: We Deserved More

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes felt his side deserved more reward for their performance at New Douglas Park after being denied three goals in a 3-0 win over Hamilton.

Aberdeen looked sure to add to early goals from Andrew Considine and Ryan Jack, especially after Jesus Garcia Tena was sent off on the hour mark, but their 80-minute wait for a third goal from Niall McGinn was largely due to the officials.

Adam Rooney saw a first-half shot bounce at least a yard over the line off the underside of the bar but well-placed referee Willie Collum and assistant David McGeachie waved play on.

Rooney had a strong penalty claim denied when he was wrestled to the ground by Tena - the foul going against him - and Collum disallowed a Considine header for climbing and a David Goodwillie goal after another linesman, Dougie Potter, raised an offside flag.

McInnes, whose side went three points behind Celtic, said: "I've not seen Considine's header again but I have seen the other two.

"Rooney's should stand, it's a good bit over the line. When you see how far it was over the line, we should be getting that right.

"Thankfully the decisions haven't impacted on the result, otherwise we might be making a bit more of it.

"The one where Goodwillie scored and the guy is off the pitch, he should still see that. I think we deserve better there as well. And I think Rooney should have a penalty. He was hauled to the ground.

"Things didn't go for us and it could have been a lot more. I think in terms of the way we controlled the game, the scoreline should have been more. But mistakes happen. I made mistakes the last time we were here - I picked the wrong team.''

Aberdeen lost 3-0 on their last visit to New Douglas Park but they arrived in Lanarkshire on far superior form and McInnes hailed his team for their fight and quality of play.

He added: "It's 32 points from a possible 36 and that's fantastic consistency in performance and results.

"The season now becomes a 13-game season and we just need to try to keep chalking off game by game as we go along. If we can keep showing that focus, determination plus the ability we have got, then hopefully we can keep winning games. That's the challenge for us now.''

One negative was a hamstring concern for Jonny Hayes, who will have a scan on Monday.

McInnes said: "Jonny at times has a tendency to feel certain things in his hamstring and sometimes it doesn't amount to much and hopefully that's the case.

It would be a real blow if it was anything more.

"I don't think there have been many if any better than him this season. He has been outstanding in different positions.''

Accies have now gone seven games without victory since Martin Canning replaced Alex Neil as player/manager and the defender bemoaned a poor start that saw his side two down inside eight minutes.

"It was stuff we talked about in terms of them getting into wide areas and looking to drill exactly the same sort of balls they scored from twice,'' Canning said.

"It was maybe switching off from players and it's stuff we need to cut out because both goals were totally avoidable.

"To give ourselves a foothold in the game you can't do it against anybody, especially against a team that are on a good run. You need to make sure you close the door and give yourself a chance.''