Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes played a bit of a managerial gamble in the Dons most recent league game. He elected to drop the top scorer of the last few seasons, Sam Cosgrove, and start Curtis Main against Ross County instead.
It had to go down as a gamble as Main has found the going tough at Aberdeen. Indeed, he had only scored one goal in nine appearances for Aberdeen this season before the game against Ross County.
Scored both goals
However, McInnes had faith in the player, and it paid off as Main scored both of Aberdeen’s goals in the 2-0 win.
Aberdeen legend Willie Miller has praised McInnes for having the courage to make that decision.
Curtis Main of Aberdeen is back in the Dons first-team (Photo by Andrew Halseid-Budd/Getty Images)
“McInnes sees the players every day in training and sees what they are producing on a day-to-day basis and now that Main seems to be clear of niggling injuries we’ve seen the displays he can produce” he said (Evening Express).
“It was the right decision”
“And there’s no question it was the right decision made by McInnes to bring Main in, not just on the evidence of Saturday, but also previous performances and results” Miller mused.
Curtis Main celebrates scoring for Aberdeen (Photo by Scott Baxter/Getty Images)
The former Aberdeen manager and captain also feels that Main getting a start could force Cosgrove to up his game, as he knows he is now in a battle for a first-team position.
“Main…made the most of his opportunity and now it’s up to Cosgrove to respond to try to win his place back and having that competition is a positive thing and there’s no reason why you can’t play both in the same team if they are both in good form.”