Robbie Neilson believes Saturday’s display at Scunthorpe United was one of his side’s best performances of the season.
Neilson’s men dominated a fifth-placed Iron outfit at Glanford Park but were forced to settle for a point, in part due to a Man of the Match showing from Scunthorpe goalkeeper Matt Gilks.
“It was up there with the best we’ve played all season so we’re obviously disappointed not to get the three points,” the Dons boss said in his post-match press conference. “We’re just going through that frustrating period at the moment.”
“We dominated throughout the game and created numerous chances but came up against a keeper who was on top form – I’m not sure who got their Man of the Match award but if it wasn’t their keeper then I would be astonished.”
He continued: “We have to remain positive. I could not ask anymore from the players and it is another point, although we deserved all three.
“We don’t want to be in the position we’re in and there’s no doubt we are disappointed with that but there are a lot of positives to take by the way the team is playing and the way it is coming together.”
Here’s what else Neilson had to say in his post-match interview...
On trailing 2-1 at half-time...
“We went in at half-time 2-1 down which was one of the biggest travesties we’ll ever see. In the second half, we created chances but we just couldn’t get that winner.
On not finding a winner...
“That’s football. You will go through periods where you’ll dominate games and have 15 shots on target but not score a goal. You’ll also go through a period where you barely have one shot on target and you will win one-nil.”
On Scunthorpe’s controversial second goal...
“Scott [Golbourne] goes to clear it and the boy barges into the back of him. That was a huge frustration for us because it allowed them to sit in and kill the game, especially after going a man down. Some of the decisions aren’t going for us at the moment but we’ll stay positive.”
On things coming together...
“We’ve had a difficult period. We’re missing [Alex] Gilbey, [Ousseynou] Cisse and [Callum] Brittain – but they are coming back to fitness so we’re starting to get there. I feel it coming together now.”
On not being awarded a penalty...
“You can’t give a free-kick, and then change your mind to give a penalty, and then change your mind to give a free-kick again. I have no idea what went on. I’m pretty sure it won’t go down in [the referee’s] highlight reel.”
On a poor first-half tackle on Chuks Aneke...
“That was one of the worst tackles you will see. The referee felt he played the ball but it doesn’t matter if you play the ball – if are you going in two-footed, at pace, with both feet off the ground, through the back of the opponent then it is a red card. I think that set the tone for the whole game. It’s disappointing for Chuks – he is huge for us and referees aren’t protecting him.”
On the form of Conor McGrandles...
“He was out for a year with a double leg break and he found it difficult to get himself back going again. He came here and he’s had to wait to get his fitness and his confidence but now we’re starting to see a player who will be a huge asset to us.”
On the support from the stands...
“We’ve asked a crowd to come here all the way up to Scunthorpe on a Saturday just before Christmas and they’ve backed us to the hilt. It’s all about trying to build that togetherness and hopefully we can continue that.”
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