Stuart Armstrong says Aberdeen must address weakness after losing three set-piece goals in two games

Aberdeen midfielder Stuart Armstrong knows the managerless Dons must find a way to stem their bleeding at set-pieces to win Sunday’s Rangers rematch at Pittodrie.

The Reds – under an interim coaching team including first-team coach Peter Leven and sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel – lost 2-0 in the Premiership at Ibrox on Tuesday, just a couple of days after Jimmy Thelin was relieved of his post as boss.

While Leven and Co. got the “fight” they demanded of the team, poor touches and hesitancy in the final third stopped the Dons getting the goals their performance in Govan warranted.

It was a continuation of one consistent attacking theme this term, but Aberdeen’s ultimate undoing against Rangers was a long-term problem at the other end: defending deliveries into their box.

The hosts netted from two first-half set-pieces – Emmanuel Fernandez nodding the opener after Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov came and failed to claim a cross, and Nicolas Raskin getting away from the Reds defenders to secure a free-header for the second.

In ex-gaffer Thelin’s final game in charge – Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Falkirk – the winning goal was also the product of Aberdeen allowing a free-header in their own penalty area from a set-piece.

Armstrong said: “The last two games, we’ve conceded three set-pieces, which is never nice and obviously hurts.

“You want to be solid in your box when you’re defending a set-piece.

“Obviously, you work so hard during the game to stop chances being created in open play, so to concede from a set-piece is always disappointing.

“That’s something that needs to be addressed and something to learn from.”

Aberdeen’s Armstrong: Desire was questioned, but we showed fight

Aberdeen did look more fired-up for the battle at Ibrox following the departure of their manager.

Armstrong said: “I think fighting in football is one of the non-negotiables and the foundation of a good team.

“At certain times, we have lost games where we feel that we shouldn’t have – and perhaps having that fight and desire is always going to be questioned when you lose games.

“I think tonight, when that type of thing is questioned, you always want to show a good display of that team effort and that fight, and I think we did that tonight.”

Goal threat gives us added belief for Sunday Rangers rematch – Armstrong

Veteran Armstrong thinks Aberdeen, now languishing in eighth-place, need to “carry” the “hurt” of not getting the result to go with their performance at Ibrox in Sunday’s repeat bout with title-challenging opponents, to give the Dons “the added belief” to “take a bit more” from the game.

Reflecting on Aberdeen’s overall showing on Tuesday, the 33-year-old said: “I think there’s some positives to take.

“If you look at the chances we created, we probably should come away with at least one goal, maybe two.

“So I don’t want to be too negative about the performance.

“We knew it was going to be tough.

“They’re a team that likes to dominate possession, and I think we fixed our press in the second half – it got better.

“But there’s definitely things to learn, obviously.

“We’re disappointed with the two set-pieces.

“In open play, I don’t think they created too much.

“So there’s definitely some positives to take and things to learn from Sunday.”

Armstrong’s ‘never nice’ reaction to Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin’s exit

Armstrong was the first Aberdeen player to speak to the press in the wake of Scottish Cup-winning boss Thelin’s sacking.

The summer signing said: “Football always involves these things.

“I’ve been around a long time now and seen this before. It’s never nice, but it’s part of the game.

“It’s obviously difficult. It’s a unique situation – it’s mid-season, so games come thick and fast.

“But I think together as a team, we fought well on Tuesday and tried to take the most from the game.

“Unfortunately, we came up short.”

[Source: Press and Journal]