Stephen Robinson praised his Aberdeen team for showing they have the character to play under pressure at Pittodrie after a 3-1 victory over St Mirren. The Dons received criticism from their own fans at half-time, but an impressive second-half performance saw them secure the win.
Goals from Brad Lyons, Kevin Nisbet and Ayoub Mouloua got Aberdeen back to winning ways at home and took them within touching distance of the top six.
Robinson on the reaction
Robinson said: “We sat back, allowed them into our half too easily and didn’t press them at all. We went 1-0 up and sat back. That is not how we set out to play. We got that reaction at half-time. We started off on the front foot and played forward. I thought the subs were excellent and that is why we have a squad.”
The Northern Irishman wants this result to be the building block for their season. Aberdeen head to Dundee United next weekend knowing a win at Tannadice would take them into the top six.
“That is what we haven’t done,” Robinson acknowledged. “We have had a good result and then taken a sideways step. It is important we try and build on that. The platform to do there is. The belief to step forward and play and be positive was epitomised by Ayoub’s goal. That is what I am driving them to.”
Subs praised for turning the game
Robinson praised his substitutes for turning things around. He confirmed: “We started brilliantly and it was a cracking goal from Brad. We sat back and didn’t press properly or play the way we wanted to play. We got a massive reaction at half-time. We changed it a little bit. The change was the mindset of stepping forward.
“Credit to the players because that is difficult when the fans were making their feelings known at half-time and rightly so. I thought it was justified because for 30 minutes we didn’t play well at all. It was justified. They rose above that and responded to that and got people behind you. It could have been more and it is amazing the confidence grew after we scored the second goal.”
Two halves and a knee concern
It was a game of two halves for the Dons. Robinson proudly added: “It shows we have the ability, bravery and consistency to do it at home when the pressure is on. I think they proved they could deal with it. I think the first half when they were on top of us we still have other brave. That is where we have to be better. We have to take the game to the opposition at Pittodrie. You can’t sit back and wait. We corrected that and the response was very, very good.
“The difference between the first half and the second half we might have played that backwards. We had a forward thought, forward move and a forward run and it ended with a great finish from Ayoub.”
Robinson confirmed Lyons went off at the interval with another knee issue. He explained: “He had to come off with another reaction in his knee. It is the same knee. I don’t know if it is the same injury, which is a concern.”
