Barry Robson has support in the stands, he has backing in the boardroom and the dressing room is clearly on his side.
Angus MacDonald confirmed the interim Aberdeen manager’s no-nonsense approach has got the players firmly behind his bid to become the next permanent boss. Robson has made no secret that he is now ready to become a manager in his own right. He and his players certainly did his chances a power of good with this battling win over Livingston.
Chief executive officer Alan Burrows steps into his new role today and has been charged with leading the search for Aberdeen’s next boss. As it stands, it would take a brave man to upset the status quo and not leave Robson in place. MacDonald said: “I think it would go down really well. I have only been here a short spell of time but the lads have taken to him and are working really hard at the training ground. That is what Barry is about – dedication and hard work – and the boys have taken to it fantastically. Long may that continue.”
Robson might be new to first-team management but it is clear he rules with an iron fist. MacDonald added: “People look up to him, he has a presence, we have to do what he says or you don’t play.
“There is a lot of running but performances come with that. If you are fitter than most teams then you can run over the top of them.”
Aberdeen have struggled since the World Cup break at the end of the year but this win takes them back into the top six. The challenge for Robson is making sure they remain there.
Centre-half MacDonald claimed: “It is where we want to be. It is massive for us. Hopefully we can now kick on and go on a run.
“Everybody knows we should be in the top half and we are going to do everything we can to stay there.”
The 30-year-old accepts top six is the first aim but knows the Dons should be kicking on and pushing for a European return.
MacDonald stated: “It is a goal for the club and the players. The players in that dressing room are hungry for success, to say you have qualified for Europe is what we are all aiming for.”
Robson has come in and addressed the central defensive issues by signing MacDonald and Mattie Pollock. Along with the impressive Ross McCrorie, they helped provide the platform for this win.
Graeme Shinnie and Ylber Ramadani were hailed as warriors by Robson, and they were. Aberdeen were the better team but in terms of chances there wasn’t much between the teams, the Dons got their goal when a poor Ayo Obileye clearance fell to Bojan Miovski who volleyed in his 17th of the season.
Livi’s big chance fell to Joel Nouble and although he beat Jay Gorter, MacDonald got back on the line to head clear. The big defender said: “I just thought the more of us on the goal line the better.
“Luckily it came off my head and I have cleared it. Credit to everyone, we have dug in and stuck to the task.”
The game wasn’t pretty but Aberdeen were well-drilled and saw out the game with minimum fuss. The Dons have been a soft-touch a lot this season but Robson seems to be changing that, they actually did a Livi on Davie Martindale’s side by out-working and out-fighting the opposition.
MacDonald admitted: “A 1-0 win is sometimes better than a 4-0 win. Everybody’s confidence lifts, it has been coming and if you keep clean sheets then you give yourself a chance to win games.
“It was tough, they are good at what they do aren’t they? They defend well and get bodies forward., we stuck to the task, three points was the aim and that is what we got.
“We’d have liked a few more shots on target and a couple more goals to make life a little easier for us. Credit to the boys, we worked hard and stuck to it.”
