Jonny Hayes reveals distraught Aberdeen reaction to HJK draw as three reasons put league table peek off limits

Jonny Hayes reckons it shows how far Aberdeen have come that their players were distraught after dropping Europa Conference League points to HJK.

The new-look Dons look to be hitting their stride and are now four games unbeaten and will be looking to extend that impressive run when St Johnstone travel to Pittodrie tomorrow. Hayes revealed though that his teammates feel they should have made it four wins out of four and the 1-1 home point with the Finns was a major disappointment.

Now they have to pick themselves up and make it three wins on the bounce in the league when the Premiership’s bottom side come calling. Hayes explained: “If you were in the dressing room after, you’d have seen the boys were a bit distraught after not winning the game. It’s obviously disappointing not to win the game, but there are still positives to take. I thought we controlled a lot of the game, bar about ten or 15 minutes in the second half when they scored.

“Even then, I don’t think it was a case of us sitting back. In Europe, you know you’re going to come up against a decent level of technical opposition. There will always be spells of a game you can’t control.

“We obviously conceded and we’ll look back at that to see what we could have done better. but the reaction to get back into the game and then try and win it was good from the boys. I’ll never be one for celebrating a draw at home but it shows there is a fighting spirit among the group.”

Aberdeen could move into the top six with maximum points on Sunday but Hayes is adamant it is too early to even give the table a second look. Results, though, have definitely improved with Rangers taken care of at Ibrox last week and a Viaplay Cup semi-final with Hibs to look forward to.

The winger