Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven issues red card warning and demands Dons ‘take ownership’ of discipline
Aberdeen's Leven addresses the damaging problem of a red card in four of the last five games, and gives a fitness update on Mats Knoester.
Interim boss Peter Leven has demanded Aberdeen wipe out a concerning red card problem in a bid to end a Premiership form crash.
The Dons have been reduced to 10 men in four of the previous five games, with centre-back Liam Morrison the latest to see red in the 3-2 loss to Dundee.
Leven warned Aberdeen must get more “savvy”, not make “stupid tackles” and also “take “ownership” of their discipline.
Aberdeen were 1-0 up and in control against Dundee until on loan Queens Park Rangers defender Morrison was ordered off in the 39th minute.
Frustrated Leven says the red cards have forced him to rip up his game-plan as he has to reshuffle the team.
The interim gaffer discussed the red card headache with the squad ahead of Tuesday’s Premiership clash at Tannadice.
Leven also again faced the question of whether or not he will be in charge of the Dons until the summer following an update on the bid to appoint a permanent manager from chairman Dave Cormack.
Leven: Dons must take ‘ownership on the pitch with discipline’
On the red cards, Leven said: “We addressed it and it is something we need to rectify.
“They have to take ownership on the pitch with discipline as four red cards in five games is not good enough.
“A red card does not give us much of a chance of progressing on the good starts we have in matches.
“We have to give ourselves a better chance in the game.
“A red card hinders you during games as you work on your shape and press.
“It all changes in the game because you are a man down.”
Leven’s no more ‘stupid tackles’ call
Centre-back Jack Milne was sent off in the 6-2 win against Livingston and Graeme Shinnie was red carded in the 3-0 loss at Kilmarnock.
Both were hit with two-game Premiership bans.
January transfer window signing Dennis Geiger, on loan from Bundesliga club Hoffenheim, was dismissed in the 2-0 Scottish Cup win against Motherwell.
Leven said: “The one with Dennis was frustrating because I don’t think we need to get into stupid tackles to level it up.
“Shinnie as well, an experienced player.
“It is about savvy.
“Liam’s one is frustrating as I don’t think it is a red card.
“The fourth official said if Liam slide tackles it is a yellow because he attempts to play the ball.
“I don’t think he means to bring him (Tony Yogane) down as he just cuts across him.
“Yogane is quite clever and checks, then stops his run, then collides with Liam
“It is frustrating.”
Aberdeen’s fading top six hopes will be left hanging by a thread if they fail to win the New Firm derby at Tannadice.
Will Leven be in charge until the summer?
The Reds are 11 points behinds sixth-placed Falkirk, although Aberdeen have two games in hand.
Chairman Dave Cormack confirmed over the weekend Aberdeen’s search for a new permanent manger has been delayed by “unforeseen circumstances”.
Former Saint-Etienne and Brann boss Eirik Horneland remains the number one target for the Pittodrie hierarchy.
Horneland, who left Saint-Etienne in late January, travelled to the Granite City earlier this month and held talks with Cormack and sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel.
However, Horneland was non-committal on the Dons position in a recent interview in Norway.
He also confirmed he would not take up any managerial position until the summer.
Leven has been in interim charge since the sacking of Jimmy Thelin on January 4.
Asked if he has been informed he will take the team until the end of the season, Leven replied: “I am just game by game, day by day right now.
“We brought in Tony (Docherty) to help and if anything changes I’m sure the club will notify you.
“The players still know what we expect and the standards I set at this club.
“It is the situation we are in and we have to deal with it.”
Turnover of players ‘difficult’
Aberdeen’s are in the grips of a Premiership form tailspin with only one win in the last 10 league matches.
During that form crash, the Reds have secured only four points from a possible 30.
In a bid to save the season, the Dons hierarchy sanctioned a busier January transfer window than initially anticipated.
[Source: Press and Journal]
