Nicky Devlin has admitted his Aberdeen team capitulated and looked like a team of wee boys against Hibs, following the 4-0 defeat at Pittodrie.
The Dons support chanted “You are not fit to wear the shirt” to their players during the match. Manager Stephen Robinson also faced abuse from the stands, with shouts of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” and “Robinson get to f***”.
Devlin: We Capitulated
Devlin said: “I’m embarrassed really and there’s not any other way to describe what happened.
“Especially the second half as we conceded a goal and it felt like as a team we capitulated.
“We it looked like we had nothing about us and myself included we looked like a team of wee boys compared to Hibs.
“The first half wasn’t too bad as we created a couple of chances but we are at home and we have to do that.
“We have to look threatening and that we are going to score but as soon as they scored we looked too far off it.
“We have to deal with adversity so much better and we didn’t do that and they could have scored whenever they wanted.”
Players Take Responsibility
Robinson bore the brunt of the abuse, but Devlin insisted the responsibility lies with the players.
He insisted: “The performance is down to us on the pitch, it doesn’t come down to anyone else.
“The quicker we realise that the better things will get.
“Everyone knows the nature of football just now and a lot of the time it is unstable for a lot of clubs.
“But that’s all decisions I can’t control, I can only influence what happens on the park.”
The Scotland international acknowledged that he and his teammates need to look long and hard at themselves over the international break.
The right-back acknowledged: “The first thing we as players need to do is go home and ask ourselves if we are doing enough.
“I would like to turn around and say that we are not if we are going to be honest with ourselves.
“We are not doing enough as individuals and that’s the way we have to look at it to start moving forward.
“Look yourself in the mirror and if anyone thinks they are doing enough then they are miles off it.
“We all have to be so much better and the fans don’t want to hear that but it’s the reality.”
Devlin's Return to the Team
Devlin has been out of the team for long spells but has got back in because of Chris Cadden’s injury.
He confirmed: “Sometimes you do think about that but football changes incredibly quickly at times.
“I maybe went from not being involved at all to having three games in a row.
“You just have to keep yourself ready in case you do get a chance to play again.
“Managers have tough decisions to make and I feel like Cadds has played well this season so I have no complaints.
“I’ve been involved in the last three games and we have lost all of them
“That means I have to take as much responsibility as anybody as I’m one of the senior players here.
“I have to be one who has to take more responsibility and more ownership of the position we are in.
“I’ll certainly do that and have a look at myself before looking at any other reasons why are not performing well.
“But it’s not about me, it’s about Aberdeen Football Club as that’s much bigger than me.
“More players than me have been left out of squads in the past so that’s not at the forefront of my mind.”
