Derek McInnes isn’t happy with Shane Duffy’s challenge on Ryan Edmondson that left the on-loan Dons striker concussed.
Early in the second half the two players challenged for the ball close to the South Stand with both players giving it 100%.
Edmondson’s momentum carried him off the park with his head clattering against an advertising board. After treatment he had to be substituted.
There is less than two metres between the touchline and advertising boards at that part of the stadium which played a far greater role in the injury than Duffy’s challenge.
McInnes told the Press and Journal:
Ryan had to go through the test the next day, but he’s absolutely fine. When I look back at the challenge, I wasn’t too happy with it. He got helped on his way and took a sore one into the boards. He took a sore one, right enough.
At Pittodrie, like a lot of grounds, there isn’t a lot of room there between the pitch and surrounding walls where the supporters are. When you are going at full speed it can be a bit treacherous. Thankfully, he is okay and he seems fine.
Looking back on the challenge, I wasn’t aware of it at the time. At the time, there was miscommunication. We thought he was OK and was going to carry on.
Ryan hurt himself last Tuesday against Hamilton because of the closeness and the change of surface. We made the change with Marley Watkins because he was feeling his hamstring – although he’s all right and should train tomorrow and Friday.
Ryan was a big more serious than we thought and had to make that double change within two or three minutes.
Duffy’s challenge is exactly what McInnes and other managers would expect from their own defenders chasing a loose ball halfway inside their own half.
Aberdeen have put on hold their plans to leave Pittodrie for a purpose-built stadium. At modern grounds such as St Johnstone and Livingston there tends to be three or four metres clearance at the side of the pitch.