Source: team_talk
Dundee Utd v Aberdeen reaction
Craig Brown used his experience to urge his Aberdeen side to put their tortuous journey behind them as they drew 1-1 at Dundee United.
Niall McGinn, Northern Ireland's midweek hero in Portugal, cancelled out John Rankin's strike as the Dons extended their unbeaten run to 11 games despite being caught up in the A90 road closure.
The Dons arrived 40 minutes before kick-off in Saturday's SPL clash at Tannadice, before Brown reminded his players of a 1990 World Cup qualifying clash when Scotland had 25 minutes to prepare for a meeting with France.
Brown was Scotland assistant manager in 1989 when Andy Roxburgh's men required a police escort - arranged using one of the first mobile phones - to reach Hampden through heavy traffic before recording a memorable 2-0 win.
"I was saying to our players 'don't give me any excuses' because it was the best Scottish home performance," Brown said.
"It was a good-quality game. It was probably a good point for us to maintain our unbeaten run and a good point for Dundee United to halt the unfortunate run they've been having."
Aberdeen captain Russell Anderson insisted the journey, over an hour longer than usual, did not impact on his side despite a curtailed warm-up.
He said: "We were a bit lethargic in our play, but I wouldn't want to blame it on the journey. Our tempo wasn't high enough to be able to get through them. Second half we were a bit more direct and it seemed to work."
McGinn scored for the fifth successive game and capped a week in which he spoiled Cristiano Ronaldo's 100th appearance for Portugal when Northern Ireland claimed a 1-1 draw in Porto.
Brown added: "Niall is very good for us. He gets in behind teams, he's got pace and he's an unselfish player. Not only does he score, but he's running along the by-line creating.
"He's hard-working and modest and just gets on with it. I can't praise him highly enough."
Anderson added: "He's on fire at the moment, a really good scoring streak. Hopefully that can continue for a while yet.
"He's feeling good about himself at the moment and quite rightly."
United, playing for the first time since the 4-0 loss at Inverness on September 29, had chances to win, particularly after 88 minutes, when Rankin fired wide across goal with a wasteful ball when he should have shot himself or passed to Johnny Russell.
The hosts, winless in six, remain at the wrong end of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, but played a full part in an entertaining New Firm derby which suggests their position will improve before too long.
Manager Peter Houston said: "I'm slightly disappointed we didn't win, but when I consider our performance at Inverness a few weeks ago, it's night and day, it's an improvement and it's a start.
"I'm delighted with the players. They worked their socks off."
United stayed second bottom in the standings, five points ahead of city rivals Dundee, but Houston is unfazed.
He said: "At the end of the season judge this United side. We won't be down at the bottom come the end of the season, I'll guarantee you that."
