Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has hit back at his Hamilton counterpart Martin Canning after his claims the Accies were harshly treated in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Pittodrie.
Canning criticised referee Euan Anderson for an inconsistent performance during the Scottish Premiership fixture and felt Dons captain Graeme Shinnie should have been sent off for persistent fouling.
The Accies ended the match with 10 men after Xavier Tomas was sent off in the second half for a second bookable offence.
Canning also claimed that such perceived injustices are “what happens to smaller clubs when the crowd is against you” – another comment that rankled with the Aberdeen manager.
McInnes said: “I had no problem at all with the physical side of it on Sunday.
“The only issue I had was with Martin Canning being in the fourth official’s ear trying to get Graeme Shinnie sent off and then his comments afterwards.
“He came out and said Shinnie had six fouls after being booked – but that was wrong.
“He had two little infringements that he was pulled up for, that was it.
“If I was Martin I’d be more disappointed one of his own players was foolishly sent off than trying to focus on getting one of mine red carded.
“I would also question his argument about Hamilton being a smaller team and not getting decisions against us because we are a bigger club.
“Last season Hamilton got a penalty here which wasn’t a penalty and they scored from it.
“And they had another penalty at their place which shouldn’t have been given and they scored from that too.
“So I kind of think that quashes what he’s trying to say.”
The comments have added a bit more spice to this evening’s Betfred Cup second round encounter when the Dons travel to New Douglas Park to face the Accies.
The Dons suffered 1-0 defeats on both trips to Hamilton last season and McInnes is eager to avoid a repeat tonight with a place in next month’s quarter-finals at stake.
He added: “I actually thought our performances against Hamilton down there last season were decent.
“We dominated and in one of the games they got a penalty which never was, in the other they scored and had something to hold on to.
“So thinking back to the games, although we lost both of them, the performances were actually good.
“But this is a cup game, I would rather take a bad performance and win than play well and go out.
“It’s never easy down there, we will have to impose ourselves on the game and be fully concentrated.”
Aberdeen forward Adam Rooney has been ruled out of the match with a thigh injury but Jayden Stockley returns from suspension.