Neil McCann blasts Barry Robson 'hoofball' as pundit details the astonishing number of times Aberdeen FC go long

Neil McCann reckons under-pressure Aberdeen boss Barry Robson again got the tactics wrong against Hearts after "hoofing" the ball up the park all afternoon.

The Dons lost 2-0 against at Tynecastle to stretch their miserable Scottish Premiership run to five games without a win – sitting second bottom only on goal difference. The travelling Dons support wasn’t shy in making their feelings known to the boss at the full-time whistle as they booed and hurled abuse at the players and Robson as they approached the away end to applaud the fans.

Robson will now look to quickly look to turn things around away from league action in their Europa Conference League group opener against Eintracht Frankfurt – but McCann reckons a major rethink will be needed by the boss if he is halt Aberdeen's slide. The former Rangers star told the Pittodrie gaffer to abandon a key tactic that was utilised in the capital – but failed to break down Steven Naismith's side.

McCann told BBC Sportscene: "They never tried to play at all. I know Kye Rowles (Hearts defender) came out and said he struggled a bit with the direct approach and maybe that is something that Barry wanted to work on but it just didn't work.

"They had three central midfielders. Jensen breaks the play and the other three just have no interest in trying to get back on the ball to play out. No interest. They hoof it up the pitch and it goes right through to the goalkeeper.

"This is quite incredible. There is seven players and just one of them has to come off into a wide area to try to play, even if it is one of your centre-backs. Every single Aberdeen player just turns their back and it's a big hoof up the pitch and it comes to nothing.

"There is enough space there if you are brave.