Aberdeen 1-1 Falkirk: Robinson looks to the future after Pittodrie draw

Before Aberdeen's game against Falkirk, it was put to new Pittodrie head coach Stephen Robinson that some of his predecessors had not appreciated the size of the club they now stood at the helm of.

"I know how big Aberdeen are," was his emphatic response.

"It was no shock to me when I walked in. It's not going to worry me. It's a football club that has been up and down to often. It's been boom or bust, and it needs stability."

Robinson wasn't just talking to the reporter in front of him. He was talking to Aberdeen's fans, and he was talking to Aberdeen's players.

His predecessor Jimmy Thelin departed in early January to trigger this mammoth managerial search, while Peter Leven's interim spell ended in a punishing Scottish Cup defeat at Dunfermline.

For Robinson, who joined from St Mirren during the week, there is a lot of damage from this season to undo.

At the end of the 90 minutes, he had witnessed a side full of energy and industry, but still lacking confidence and quality in the final third.

A 1-1 draw was the result. Not the dream debut, but not a nightmare, either.

To the outsider, the result with Falkirk - only promoted to the top flight this season - might seem like a poor result. In reality, it's not a bad point at all.

Falkirk were looking to secure a top six place in the Scottish Premiership, while Aberdeen had won just one of their past 13 league games before this. They'd already lost twice to Falkirk, both by 1-0 deficits.

And Robinson acknowledged pre-match that he needed to "simplify the things they were doing and the things that were causing them problems" despite only having one training session with them before the game.

"They lost the ball a lot playing out from the back, so we're trying to play the ball in the opposition half, trying to deliver more balls in the box," he said.

"Sometimes people try and complicate football a lot."

What he got from his side was a more simplified game. As you'd expect, players worked hard for the new boss, keen to impress.

Kevin Nisbet, occasionally reticent to track back, was often spotted doing his defensive duties. The pressing of second-half substitute Lyall Cameron brought about the goal, as Brad Spencer was forced to play the ball backwards.

And despite the late equaliser conceded to Barney Stewart, the new man was suitably pleased.

"We looked a lot more structured and organised than we have been," he said.

"There were positive performances. It was Liam Morrison's best game in an Aberdeen shirt, young Dylan Lobban was full of energy, Dennis Geiger was excellent and Nizzy [Kevin Nisbet] scores.

"The back three were good. Gavin [Molloy] loses his man for the goal but outwith that, he was very good at times."

While Aberdeen did score, it was a goal gifted to them by Falkirk and their goalkeeper Scott Bain, who panicked under some light pressure.

They struggled to create much, other than two set piece opportunities that fell to Marko Lazetic and Graeme Shinnie.

It's been a running theme for Aberdeen this season. The goals have well and truly dried up. Only Dundee and St Mirren - Robinson's former club - have scored fewer.

Their total expected goals (xG) this season is actually 36, but they've only scored 30. Their shot conversion rate is 8.5% which is, again, only better than St Mirren.

On the ball against Falkirk, they lacked composure at times and the possession battle was well won by the visitors.

"We can be much better on the ball, Robinson admitted.

"We looked like a team that have lost five out of six games. Confidence is fragile, but they know they have a structure to work on."

That defensive structure is also vital to get right quickly.

"We didn't stop the cross when we could have gotten closer to stop it," the head coach reflected on the Falkirk equaliser.

"It's never one individuals fault. Within one day we've put a structure in place, an organisation, that they can play from.

"Sometimes you want players to get on the ball and enjoy themselves, but when you're not winning confidence is fragile. There's a lot of work to be done.

"Could we get more quality? More creativity? One hundred percent, but it's a start."

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