Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin insists he believes in Jayden Richardson and will retain faith in the summer signing.
A £300,000 signing from Nottingham Forest right-back Richardson has come in for criticism from some supporters recently.
Goodwin says Richardson is going to make mistakes as he is a young player who is still developing.
The Reds boss insists he will help the 22-year-old “iron out those deficiencies” in his game.
Goodwin will “stick by” Richardson and has urged Aberdeen fans to encourage his players rather than get on their backs.
Richardson delivered the key pass that led to the penalty for the opening goal in Friday’s 4-1 defeat of rivals Hibs.
It was a victory that elevated Aberdeen up into third in the Premiership table.
Goodwin said: “I believe in the boy. I brought Jayden to the club.
“Jayden is a young lad who still has so much developing to do.
“He is going to make mistakes and is a little bit inconsistent like all kids are at every club in the country.
“I believe in him and will stick with him.
“We will try to iron out those little deficiencies he has in his game.
“He is willing to learn which is the most important thing to me.”
Signed to replace Calvin Ramsay
Richardson was signed from Premier League bound Nottingham Forest as a replacement at right-back for Calvin Ramsay.
Teenager Ramsay was sold to six time European champions Liverpool in a deal that could be worth up to £8 million for the Dons.
Aberdeen received £4.5m upfront and could receive an additional £3.5m in add-ons should Ramsay reach certain milestones at Anfield.
The 19-year-old made his Liverpool debut as a substitute in the 2-0 Champions League group defeat of Napoli at Anfield last week.
The 26-year-old Tranmere defender was also a transfer target for the Dons during the summer window.
‘Certain players tend to come in for a little bit of criticism’
Aberdeen then swooped to secure Richardson who was on loan at Notts County last season.
Goodwin says he is sticking with Richardson.
And he has urged supporters to get behind all his players as the Reds bid to finish third in the Premiership and deliver cup success.
He said: “Everyone has an opinion and every fan could start a different starting XI.
“Certain players tend to come in for a little bit of criticism.
“I try to encourage the boys not to listen too much to the noise outside the dressing room.
“I would just ask the fans to try to encourage the boys, because that certainly helps more than getting on their backs.”
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No concern over time for VAR calls
Aberdeen made it five wins from six Premiership games at Pittodrie this season with the emphatic victory against Hibs.
The turning point was a VAR penalty call in first half injury time when keeper David Marshall was adjudged to have brought down Aberdeen striker Duk.
Bojan Miovski’s spot kick was saved.
However that also went to VAR where it was confirmed Marshall had moved off his line before Miovski hit the ball.
A retake was awarded which North Macedonian international Miovski converted.
There was a long delay for the VAR call to be concluded.
Goodwin doesn’t care about the time-frame, only that the right decision is made.
He said: “People will talk about the length of time it takes to get to a decision.
“As long as they get to the right decision I don’t care how long it takes.
“Especially in games of this magnitude where three points are invaluable.
“It was really important we took the three points back off Hibs that they took from us at Easter Road.
“The main aim of having VAR available is to try to get the big calls right more often than not.
“We are not going to get them all right but I think statistically over the course of the season those calls will balance themselves out.
“They will suggest that the referees and the guys in the studios have got them right.
“My concern was that I thought Duk was offside and I didn’t even think it would get as far as the penalty check.
“I was delighted when it came over the tannoy that the offside check was complete and then we were on to the penalty.
“There were plenty of people watching that have better angles and they came up with the conclusion that it was a penalty.
“Thankfully it has gone for us. There will be occasions in the coming weeks and months where it will go against us.
“It is just the nature of the beast.”
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