McInnes calls for more goals from his strikers

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes admits he is looking for more from his strikers ahead of the visit of Livingston.

Livi moved above the Dons in the Ladbrokes Premiership on Saturday after St Johnstone won 2-0 at Pittodrie.

It was the third time in four games that Aberdeen failed to score and their experienced strikers have not lived up to expectations this season.

Stevie May, on-loan Manchester United forward James Wilson and Sam Cosgrove only have five goals between them in all competitions, while 20-year-old Bruce Anderson has twice scored off the bench.

Midfielders Lewis Ferguson (three) and Gary Mackay-Steven (six) are their top goalscorers and the latter will be missing again against Livingston after sitting out the last two and a half games with a head injury.

McInnes said: “I have been trying to add to the top end of the pitch for a while, I tried to get a creative player in during the summer, we were close to getting one ore two things done. So we do feel we have missed that and maybe that extra goal threat which can sometimes help in tight games.

“We tried to bring a striker in in the summer. We put bids in for four or five, maybe more than that, home and abroad. None of the offers were enough money to persuade the clubs to sell their striker. That was disappointing that we couldn't increase our offer enough.

“We were trying to get the best one then on loan and we brought in James.

“There is still time for everybody to play their part. Some players have been here longer than others, but I do feel that it's the team's responsibility to create and score goals and not just focus on our centre forward areas.

But certainly the main responsibility falls on strikers and we are looking for more from them.''

The last time Aberdeen faced Livingston was in a League Cup tie four years ago when Adam Rooney netted a hat-trick in a 4-0 win.

Rooney's summer departure has affected the Dons but Livi are also a much-changed side from those days, with only Keaghan Jacobs surviving from that team.

McInnes said: “They have been a brilliant addition to the league, they have been fantastic.

“Their team is built on good players, a good system and a lot of hungry players, which is really refreshing.

“When you see players maybe deemed not good enough elsewhere and they win two successive promotions, you can imagine what the atmosphere around their club is.

“They look as if they are really just enjoying the Premiership, which is how it should be. There is a freshness about them.

“There is a good physicality about them and they do score a lot of goals from set plays but they are more than that, everyone knows their jobs and they look like a well-coached team."