A Question of Heart (Aberdeen 2-2 Rijeka)

And there it is. The second. Rijeka move the ball with pace and confidence following their first goal and with the help of a fortuitous deflection, they have a second. A hopeful effort loops over Danny Ward and Pittodrie is silenced, at least for a moment.

Time seemed to stop. What must Derek McInnes have been thinking in that moment? An excellent tactical performance in Rijeka had secured a three goal advantage and his side had managed proceedings at Pittodrie well for 45 minutes but two strikes in quick succession from Tomasov and Kvrzic had thrown the proverbial spanner into the works. There were no glaring errors in the goals from an Aberdeen perspective. Perhaps Rijeka were afforded too much space or time on the ball but the goals seemed to capture how quickly the tone of a European tie can change. Within a five minute period the Croatian side had pulled themselves back into it and the Aberdeen faithful were anxious.

So what does the gaffer do? Some individuals from the substitutes’ bench are sent to warm up but everyone within Pittodrie knows that with the score perched at Aberdeen 0-2 Rijeka, it is not a tactical issue at stake, it is a question of heart. Do the fans, the players, the team have what it takes to change the course of the match?

A roar erupted from the stands and the chants were back in full flow as the supporters got behind their team. It was now down to the players to respond, and respond they did. Immediately following the restart, the ball found its way to Logan who chipped the ball down the line in the direction of Goodwillie. The strength shown by the lone striker allowed McGinn to burst clear and fire an exquisite half-volley beyond Rijeka goalkeeper Sluga. Eight minutes following, another ball down the line, this time by Considine on the opposite flank, sent Goodwillie clear who teased two Rijeka defenders towards him before teeing up Hayes to finish and put the tie beyond all doubt.

Aberdeen had responded with a determination and bottle that has become prevalent under the
McInnes regime but evaded Pittodrie for so long prior to his appointment. A culture of strength in unity and togetherness has been cultivated in recent years at Aberdeen Football Club and we got more than a glimpse of it from the goal celebrations on Thursday night.

It was a team performance, a resilient response in the face of adversity. Every player had their part but we wanted to credit some individuals who played particularly well.

Here are our thoughts:

David Goodwillie

The enigmatic striker has been brought into the starting eleven over the past two legs in order to fulfil a very specific role and it is one that he has proven to be exceptionally successful in. A lone striker has a thankless task. Chasing down balls, hassling the opposition defence and feeding off scraps are three components that comprised the striker’s job over the past two legs. These were unglamorous responsibilities that were completed with a fervour and channelled aggression. They were also complemented by an intelligence on the ball to bring others into play.

Simply put, the Stirling-born striker was fantastic. The first goal captured his physical strength and hinted at his selfless play before the second goal confirmed it. Breaking clear down the left, some might have thought Goodwillie had blown the chance to score himself but the striker had cleverly drawn two opposition defenders towards him. As a result Jonny Hayes had space in the penalty area and Goodwillie had the vision to pick him out and allow the Irishman to level the score.

The striker has won a few hearts with his performances against Rijeka and was greeted with a thoroughly deserved standing ovation as he made way for Adam Rooney in the seventy-fifth minute. The striker completed seven assists last season. With three already this season, perhaps we are yet to see the best of David Goodwillie.

Graeme Shinnie

He’s one of our own.

Graeme Shinnie is a fans’ favourite already. If he loses the ball, he wins it back. Once he has regained possession, he identifies the correct decision quickly and executes it well. Adopting the holding midfield position alongside Ryan Jack, Shinnie carried the ball confidently on several occasions. Unafraid to go past opponents, he is as comfortable on the ball as he is trying to win it back.

In the first half on Thursday night, he contributed to effective containment of the Rijeka attacking threat. At 2-0 in the second half, he didn’t hide but rather got on the ball and switched the play to the side of the pitch there was space. Shinnie’s pressuring was relentless. A persistent thorn in the side of the away team, to the point where the referee felt a yellow card was merited. Time after time, Shinnie’s challenges were well-timed and he remained consistently composed throughout the ninety. We have a player on our hands and we got him for nothing.

Paul Quinn

It has been almost seven years since Quinn’s last outing in a European match, a defeat to French outfit Nancy in the old UEFA Cup in October 2008 as a Motherwell player, but throughout the last two legs it has looked as though he has never been away. This was his first taste of knockout victory in European competition. His reaction after Hayes’ goal said it all – the scream could have been heard on King Street.

After his introduction into the squad in June most Dandies would have agreed that he would not have been in the starting eleven come August and may not even have rated him as one of the top three centre halves in the squad. However, given the composure and discipline of his last two performances we would expect to see him start against Dundee United next month. Over the two legs against Rijeka Quinn completed his duties quietly with no qualms, making some vital blocks and interceptions. The summer signing from Ross County putting his body on the line when required. What more could we ask for?

Reynolds’ injury has opened the door for him, and a run of good performances in the team could mean that, once fit, Reynolds will not walk straight back into the starting line-up. This is a great position for McInnes to be in, we now have competition all over the park, with players vying for places where we thought a partnership had settled. We have signed a quality player, a former Motherwell and Cardiff captain, for no fee. Not bad.

Andrew Considine

The Banchory boy has grown as a footballer tremendously since McInnes arrived at the club. Initially uncomfortable and disjointed at left-back, he is now assured to the point where it is considered his strongest position. A fine defensive performance against Rijeka on Thursday earned Considine the plaudits of pundits in the papers today. The defender tackled well and appeared impenetrable.

Impressive positioning means that Considine’s lack of pace has rarely been an issue of late. The defender is also aware of his responsibilities to support the midfield and help in the process of transitioning defence from attack. Considine’s competence in this area was epitomised by his reactive thinking to bend a ball down the line for Goodwillie. The weight of the pass was so that Rijeka’s defender was caught out and Goodwillie was on his way to set up an equaliser.

Considine’s impressive consistency over the last year has meant that Shinnie could well be deployed primarily as a centre midfielder this season, and given recent performances from both players, that won’t worry the Dandies.