McInnes: Victory over Killie was a win Aberdeen badly needed

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes saw his side end a six-game streak without a win by defeating Kilmarnock and admitted it was a result the club sorely needed.

Callum Hendry’s goal separated the sides at Pittodrie and ended a long stretch without the team finding the net.

McInnes said he was delighted to see his team get their rewards and believes they have shown a spell of good form now.

“At this stage of the season and on the back of the run that we’ve been on everybody would accept it’s all about the points,” he said.

“I thought we started as we had finished at Celtic Park. The performance at Celtic was very good and I thought we started well.

“Fraser Hornby and Florian Kamberi were influential, Lewis Ferguson should maybe have done better with his chance and then just as we’re getting settled, Hornby goes down injured.

“The good thing was that Callum Hendry comes up trumps with the goal. As a striker, especially when you come in on loan, you just want to get off the mark as soon as possible. He’s not the biggest but he’s good in the air and it’s good for him to get off and running.

“I thought we forgot to play in the second half but maybe subconsciously with the run we’ve been on the players thought we’ll hold on to what we have rather than bring the calmness and composure to get that second goal.

“But one was enough today. We’ve had 17 clean sheets this season and that’s been important for us, but we’re searching for more goals. One was enough today and what a good goal it was.”

The Dons boss said that he thought he had come through his most difficult spell as manager but said that keeping a level head was important for everyone around the team.

“I think [it is my toughest spell],” he said. “But I think you need to enjoy the good times more.

“And it’s maybe a reminder to myself and the players that when you play for this club or manage it then there are these demands.

“I don’t think we’re ever as good as people say we are when we’re doing well and you need to keep that balance. Everybody having a go and having a comment – you need to accept that.

“I say to the players that we’re the fourth best team in the country at this moment in time. To be the third best we need to start winning games and start turning up more, getting more wins between now and the end of the season.

“We’re better than most teams, we’re not as bad as people say, but we still have to go and win games of football.

“Today will hopefully help matters. It’s only one win but one that’s been badly needed. Hopefully now we can take the confidence and try and get a few more.”

Defeated Kilmarnock boss Tommy Wright thought his team deserved a draw.

He said: “I thought we’d done enough to get a point, probably not enough to win all three. It’s the same old story. We shoot ourselves in the foot.

“It’s a soft free kick. We gave Hendry the freedom of the penalty box.

“We had a great chance to equalise through Nicke (Kabamba) and second half we had good possession against a good side. We’ve given everything to try to get back in the game.

“Ultimately a severe lack of quality in terms of putting quality into the box for the strikers.”