275 years as your voice
Aberdeen boss Barry Robson has revealed he replaced Graeme Shinnie at the start of the second shift against St Johnstone through injury.
Captain Shinnie replaced the team after just 56 minutes in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against the Premiership club.
It is the first time in Shinnie’s career at Pittodrie that the midfielder has left early.
The attack against the Saints was also only the sixth time in Shinnie’s 216 appearances with Aberdeen that the club captain replaced.
Every previous substitution had been delayed in the game, but Robson opted to retire Shinnie just 11 minutes after the second phase against the Saints.
Robson says he took this complicated resolution because the Scottish foreigner was “tired” and looked “a bit fit” after Thursday’s European Championship clash against HJK Helsinki.
Aberdeen drew 1-1 with champions Finland in a Europa Conference League Group G clash at Pittodrie, three days before the clash against St Johnstone.
Robson said: “Graeme is tired and I think he’s starting to look a bit of long legs.
“I didn’t need to hurt him.
“I have to be with it.
“It’s easy to leave the captain out, so we have to manage things well.
“We did well. “
Aberdeen is balancing the demands of the European Championship level with internal commitments this season.
The Dons are on the European stage for the first time since the 2007-08 UEFA Cup.
Robson’s got the first point in Group G of the Europa Conference League with a draw against HJK.
It is the Reds’ second match in Group G, following their 2-1 loss to Bundesliga giants Eintracht Frankfurt in the first match in Germany.
The draw was opposed to St Johnstone Aberdeen’s sixth match in 17 days in all competitions.
During this busy schedule, Robson’s has played 3 Premiership matches, two Europa Conference League matches and a draw in the Viaplay Cup.
Robson said: “Graeme feels the effects, like Jamie McGrath.
“I think maybe I’ll eliminate Stefan (Gartenmann) at some point because he was having problems.
“You’ve been given that those guys go on Sunday, Thursday, Sunday.
“Now we are learning in Europe and we know we will face some games on Sunday.
“So we have to do well at the beginning of the game.
“You will find yourself fresher because we are playing in Europe.
“But that’s where we are. We need to play in Europe and form a smart team.
“The last game we played after Europe was at Ross County (4-0 win), where we played well.
“Those first forty-five minutes against St Johnstone were frustrating because we have to be better than that. “
Robson Shinnie with former Liverpool midfielder Leighton Clarkson in an early double substitution.
Summer signing Jamie McGrath also came on in the 56th minute to be replaced by Dante Polvara.
Forward Ester Sokler replaced Duk within a minute.
Robson said: “The three players who came in affected the game and gave us a bit of power at the right time.
“We may be here after winning 2-0 or 3-0 and everyone would be happy.
“But we didn’t score the goals.
“I don’t think Kelle (Roos, goalkeeper) touched the ball in the second half.
“I’m proud of the character and that they continued in the second half after that game we had (HJK Helsinki). “
Aberdeen scored a questionable goal at the end of the first half.
St Johnstone’s centre-back Andy Considine headed for his own goal, but the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.
In the end, Aberdeen’s inability to convert goals proved costly for St Johnstone.
The win would have surpassed the Reds’ point in terms of problems with fourth-placed Hearts.
In contrast, Donations is among the last six, occupying the eighth position.
Robson refused to be too pessimistic and highlighted the positives.
He said: “We are still unbeaten for years, still in Europe and still in the semi-finals.
“We’re fine. “