(Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Greg Leigh recognises his own performance wasn’t good enough -and is aware the Aberdeen team as a whole must improve from their League Cup exit.
St Mirren dumped the Dons out the cup on Saturday. goals from Ilkay Durmus and Jamie McGrath sending Derek McInnes’ men to a disappointing defeat. While it took a bizarre 89th minute goal to knock them out, Aberdeen were second best.
Leigh was disappointed at the weekend. (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
The Buddies deserved their progression to the last eight and Leigh says Aberdeen have to improve: “We have started the game slowly. I don’t why that is, but it was not good enough.
“Not everyone’s head was where it should have been. Second half was better, but we did not start the game anywhere near fast enough. I can’t explain why that was for every player, but as a team it was not good enough.
“You could say that players have not taken their chance. Every player needs to look at their performance. I know I will look at myself and see what I could have done better. Especially with the first goal we conceded.
Unhappy with the Dons display. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group via Getty Images)
“I think we lacked some pride. We lacked players saying ‘I am going to be as good as I can be today’. Players did not go out with the attitude of ‘I deserve the shirt next week’. Individuals need to look at themselves and also as a team we need to look at it. Are we going to beat teams collectively? We lacked that as well.
“We were not good enough. It is a kick up the behind. We just cannot have the same performance again. We need to turn it round.”
Aberdeen are struggling with injuries and Covid isolation at present, with key men in Lewis Ferguson, Connor McLennan and potentially Ross McCrorie set to return for the Premiership trip back to St Mirren on Saturday.
Ferguson and McLennan will return. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group via Getty Images)
Leigh says it’s not an excuse for defeat: “You can make excuses, of how many away games we have had and the amount of travelling, players not being available, other players not playing much football; but it is just not good enough.
“With players missing it is difficult because the momentum is lost. We have lost players who have been a big foundation of why the team has done well this season and have been part of how the team has played.
“Their loss is felt throughout the team. When that is taken away, it is tough for players to come in and replicate that. It is a big ask to fill some of their shoes.
Plenty of injuries. (Photo by Scott Baxter/Getty Images)
“But the minimum you can ask for is a big amount of effort and big amount of commitment to the side. You did not see that in the first half.”