Derek McInnes

‘It’s a missed opportunity for us.

“The way the game played out we didn’t have a lot of time to go back out and pick up all three points. We changed our shape and I thought we stifled St Johnstone. We managed the game well up until the 87th minute.

“All of the play was in their half and the pitch was difficult for both teams. There wasn’t too many chances created but I certainly felt if anybody was going to score that second goal it would have been ourselves. We had decent chances and Mannus has pulled off one or two saves.

“We weren’t free flowing and slick with our passing but we felt that 1-0 was going to be enough as we kept St Johnstone at arm’s length in the second half and they weren’t causing us too many problems up until the penalty kick.

“I couldn’t be sure at the time and having seen it again the angle we have isn’t any closer so I can’t be sure if it was a penalty or not. The referee was a lot closer than me and he was sure so he has gave the penalty. We are disappointed that we had very little time to come back from it.

“Adam Rooney has torn his thigh so he will probably be out for around six weeks. He was doing a bit of shooting after training on Thursday, a wee bit extra as he always does, and he thought it was just a mild strain at first. We sent him for a scan and our worst fears were confirmed with a small tear there. With that area of the body we need to tread carefully with it and we expect to be without him for six weeks.

“We have dealt with not having important players in the past. We were without Jonny today and Shay along with young Craig Storie and the good thing is that Shay will be back for Wednesday. Storie will train on Monday as he had a little strain and Jonny is making good progress. The responsibility falls on everyone else now to score more goals as we have been very dependent on Adam.

‘It would be wrong not to mention Simon Church’s performance today, I thought he was excellent. He got his predatory goal which was very Rooney like and he was unlucky in the six yard box with another chance. He led the line well after we started him on the left hand side and I thought he did well there too but his performance gives us every encouragement.

“He has scored two goals in four starts now and both goals have come in the six yard box. We thought that he could play together with Adam and give us a double threat because I think we have been too reliant on Adam at times. His performance more than his goal encourages me because I know if we give him good service he will score goals.

“It was difficult to take not winning the game when it looked for so long as if we would win all three points.
“It’s always difficult when your defenders go to ground in the box, you run the risk but Ryan has went to stop Craig putting the ball across and he is adamant that he has won the ball. I haven’t really seen it again and I can’t be convinced either way to be honest.

“I thought we should have dealt with it before then as we had opportunities to clear it but we didn’t and when the ball has arrived in that area of the pitch we are disappointed that we are on the wrong end of a penalty award. 
“It wasn’t the best game and the pitch was difficult there is no getting away from that. We didn’t play anywhere like ourselves in the first half as there were moments of sloppiness that gave St Johnstone encouragement but I felt in the second half we really got on top of the game. 1-0 should have been enough and that is why we are angry and frustrated now.

“Fans are like us, we are not any different. We saw that as an opportunity to win the game. We haven’t gained ground on Celtic and Hearts have gained a couple of points on us. It would have been different if we didn’t look like winning the game and that’s what compounds it. After we went in front I never ever thought that we weren’t going to win the game. We looked like the team more likely to score the second goal, the goal really came from nothing and it has cost us two points today.”