ABERDEEN FC STARS SPOKE TO PETER LEVEN ON ZOOM FROM HOSPITAL AS NICKY DEVLIN MAKES EUROPE FUEL VOW

Nicky Devlin made his 50th appearance of the season but is just gutted Aberdeen’s season has come up short.

The right-back has been a big player for the Dons, helping them into the group stages of the Europa Conference League, the Viaplay Cup Final and the last four of the Scottish Cup. And all on top of a Premiership schedule that had seen Devlin start 34 out of 35 games. But the disappointing league campaign has left the Dons in the bottom six and the best they can achieve is seventh spot.

The right-back, who helped Aberdeen to see off St Johnstone, said: “It’s 50 today and it’s been a hell of a long season with the number of games we’ve played in all competitions. I’ve quite enjoyed it but we have probably come up short in all of them which is frustrating. Some slightly short, being unlucky in the cup final and semi-final but in terms of the league campaign we’ve been way short of where we wanted to be. At times this season we’ve shown we can be a right good side but we haven’t done that enough. Ultimately that’s why we are where we are in the Premiership table as you deserve to be wherever you finish in the league.”

Aberdeen had struggled to cope with the demands of European and domestic football, costing Barry Robson his job. The Aberdeen board thought they were still in the fight for third but the appointment of Neil Warnock turned out to be a disaster.

After that, interim boss Peter Leven was trying to keep them out of a relegation fight, which was achieved on Saturday with this win Devlin stated: “It’s a lot of games but if you offered me that every season because you would be playing in European competition I’d happily take it.

“It’s obviously been difficult at times when the schedule was constant with the extra midweek games. Of course, it does take its toll on players and you have seen boys’ form go up and down throughout the season.

“But if we talk about that we’re looking for excuses, we’ve had enough on the park to go out and win games. Ultimately we didn’t perform enough so we don’t want to look at European football for excuses. The top teams are able to go again if they have games in midweek, they do what they have to do to get results.

“We’ve not really been able to get a consistent run at it the last five or six weeks, going back-to-back with clean sheets and stuff. But when you’re a footballer you really want to play.”

Aberdeen know their shortcomings this season will see them miss out on Europe next season. And Devlin hopes that fuels his fellow team-mates under incoming boss Jimmy Thelin.

He said: “That’s a big frustration. If European football doesn’t get you going for next season to get back to it then nothing will. We had some unbelievable moments in Europe against some top teams and some results were good. If you don’t want more of that then you’re probably not at the right club.”

Aberdeen have found form under Leven, although he missed this game after being rushed in for hip surgery. The Reds are six games unbeaten in the league and four games without losing a goal.

Devlin said: “It’s probably been a little too late this run we are on but it’s always good to keep clean sheets. We are not as open now and that’s a big bit to do with the way we’re keeping the ball better.”

Aberdeen dominated but the only goal of the game came from the penalty spot. Devlin played a one-two and charged into the box before he was caught by Andrew Considine.

Saints boss Craig Levein labelled it soft but it didn’t stop Bojan Miovski sending Dimitar Mitov the wrong way for his 25th goal of the season. Devlin said: “I’ve not seen it back but at the time it felt like there was contact and that’s what VAR is there for to decide these things.”

Saints had a Benji Kimpioka effort headed off the line by Stefan Gartenmann. At the other end Junior Hoilett rattled the bar with a free-kick and put the rebound right at Mitov.

Aberdeen were dominant in the second period the perfect pick-me-up for the hospitalised Leven. Devlin added: “We only lost him on the day of the match because everything was done beforehand. That’s credit to Pete, Scott Anderson and the rest of the backroom staff. On matchday you just do whatever’s gone on all week. We saw Pete after the game on Zoom with his gown on, it was good to see him in good spirits.”

2024-05-06T05:14:52Z dg43tfdfdgfd