Aberdeen winger Niall McGinn has offered his thoughts after the Dons came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Derek McInnes’ side have lost ground on Motherwell in the race to finish third in the Premiership, after they beat Ross County 4-1 at Fir Park.
The Dons went behind to an Eamonn Brophy penalty, and minutes later Greg Kiltie doubled the hosts’ advantage with a sweet strike from the edge of the box.
McGinn believes Kilmarnock’s penalty was ‘soft’ (Photo by Scott Baxter/Getty Images)
But Aberdeen, with their brilliant record at Rugby Park perhaps subconsciously spurring them on, hit back through McGinn and then Connor McLennan to salvage a point.
It was a good show of character from the visitors, but the Motherwell result will mean there will ultimately be feelings of disappointment.
Speaking afterwards, McGinn questioned the decision to award Kilmarnock a penalty for a handball by Ash Taylor (official website): “Two goals down, and coming back to draw the game, we have to take the point and move on.
“We actually started ok but then lost the goal.
“I thought at the time the penalty decision was very soft. I thought Ash’s hands were by his side. To make it worst, he has also received a yellow carded him as well.
Aberdeen stretched their unbeaten run at Rugby Park to 17 games (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)
“Kilmarnock are a good side and dangerous when they attack you. We defended ok later on but we are disappointed with the way we gave away the second goal.
“The goal before half-time was very important to get us back into the game.”
Aberdeen must bounce back
The Dons didn’t lose, but Motherwell’s result against Ross County will take some of the shine off Aberdeen’s comeback at Rugby Park.
A three-point gap has now opened up between the teams in the race to finish third, and McInnes’ men take on a wounded Hibs side this weekend.
They need to get three points at Pittodrie, with Motherwell in action against Hibs’ Tuesday conquerors Hearts.