Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes blames drab draw with Hearts on busy schedule

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes his side's hectic start to the season was a factor behind the 0-0 stalemate with Hearts.

The Premiership clash was Aberdeen's fourth match in 10 days, and McInnes suspects a trip to Slovenia to face Maribor in the Europa League and a 360-mile round journey to face Ayr in the Betfred Cup took their toll.

McInnes said: "I always felt getting a goal in the first half was going to be crucial in this game and getting ourselves ahead, as there was a clear lack of energy in that second half.

"That was without question, there was a lack of quality at times because there are players who are clearly out on their feet. (Graeme) Shinnie and (Ryan) Jack are real indications for me as they are as fit as any player going.

"You see them plodding through the game in the last half hour and that's just a consequence of playing four games in 10 days for the majority of them.

"Sometimes that lack of quality isn't there and I fully understand that, I felt for my players as they tried to give more than was physically possible.

"We deserved to get in at the break ahead but Hearts had enough moments in the second half to deserve a point. It was two teams who looked a bit tired but it was two teams who were doing their best to win the game."

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson was spoken to by referee Kevin Clancy in the first half for his protests when Sam Nicholson went down under a challenge in the box from Shay Logan, however he refused to get drawn into any war of words over whether the referee made the right decision.

Neilson said: "The referee said it wasn't a penalty so we need to accept it. To be honest I was about 60 yards away. My view is always going to favour my team.

"When he came over to speak to me it was more my arm movements he wasn't happy with than any comments I was making. I'll need to keep my hands in my pockets in future.

"I think every manager gets frustrated with decisions. You want every one of them for your team.

"I don't know how many Aberdeen players got booked, two or three?

"How many did we get? Three, four, five, six, seven?'' The final count showed five Hearts and two Aberdeen players were yellow-carded.

"That's the way it is,'' Neilson added. "We need to accept it. Having a moan about it isn't going to change it."