Leading goal-scorer Bojan Miovski will remain Aberdeen’s penalty taker despite his recent spot-kick miss, manager Jim Goodwin has confirmed.
North Macedonian international Miovski missed a penalty in the 2-1 loss at Livingston on Tuesday night when the Dons were two goals down.
Aberdeen were later awarded another spot-kick against Livi, but strike partner Luis “Duk” Lopes was put on penalty duties for that… and converted.
Miovski, who has scored 11 goals this season in all competitions, also missed a penalty in the previous match – a 4-1 defeat of Hibs.
However, the referee ordered a penalty retake, which Miovski converted, after VAR confirmed Hibs keeper David Marshall had moved off his line.
Boss Goodwin says £535,000 summer signing Miovski will be on spot-kick duties for Saturday’s clash with Dundee United at Pittodrie.
But he warned, if the 23-year-old misses another penalty, there could be a “change of heart” on who takes them.
Goodwin said: “Bojan missed one the other night and we felt that Duk was in the right frame of mind to take the next one.
“But we will give Bojan another chance at it.
“He missed that one at Hibs, but had the courage to stand up and dispatch the other one.
“I think when you are a penalty taker at any club, it is going to happen at some point where you hit a bad penalty or the keeper makes a great save.
“Just because he has missed one, it doesn’t mean he comes off them forever.
“Bojan is our main number 9 and our top goal-scorer, and he has had an incredible season up to now.
“He has the confidence and the courage to step up and I will give him the honour again against Dundee United.
“If he misses again, we might have to have a change of heart.”
‘We are still hurting from Tannadice’
Goodwin insists he is still “hurting” from a 4-0 humiliation by Dundee United at Tannadice on October 8 – and wants pay back.
United were rock bottom of the Premiership going into that New Firm derby last month and had yet to win a league game.
But Goodwin admits they “turned over” his side.
He said: “Our home form has been excellent, but we are still hurting from Tannadice, where Dundee United turned us over.
“There are a number of elements added to that in terms of the motivation factor for the players.
“The big one thing is to keep entertaining the home fans and trying to send them home happy again.
“Like we have done most of the season at Pittodrie.”
Aberdeen were backed by a 4,000-strong travelling Red Army for the trip to Tannadice.
The Reds boss admits there was ‘”a lot of head scratching” after the New Firm derby shocker.
Asked if that defeat is the worst experience since taking over as Aberdeen manger in February, he said: “I would say so.
“It is certainly up there.
“It was a real surprise to concede the goals in the manner in which we did.
“Teams have off nights.
“There was a lot of head scratching after that one, especially with the volume of fans we took down with us.
“We had 4,000 away fans and we didn’t give them anything during the night and that was the most disappointing factor.
“Credit to the players, as they always have done after disappointment, they got on with it and followed up with some good performances and results.
“That is what we are looking for on Saturday.
“We are still disappointed from Tuesday against Livingston, because it was a game we should have taken something from.
“In the second half, we did more than enough to get a point.
“We have nothing to show for our efforts.
“However, the second half was excellent and some of the best football we have played all season.”
Target to go into the break in third
Aberdeen currently sit third in the Premiership table on 22 points, ahead of fourth placed Livingston on goal difference.
Just two points separate the Dons from eighth-placed St Mirren.
Goodwin is determined to go into the five-week international break after the Dundee United clash still holding third spot.
He said: “We want to go into that period feeling good about ourselves.
“The incentive for us is to win the game and to maintain third position.
“Albeit it is extremely tight and there are a number of fixtures on Saturday that could be very interesting.
“The league table could have a very different outlook when we finish our game at 8pm.
“We can only focus on what we can do.”
Dundee United buoyant after 4-0 win
Goodwin was absent from the dugout during the loss at Livingston.
The Dons boss served the final immediate match of a five-game SFA ban, with two suspended until the end of the season.
He will return to the dugout for the Dundee United clash.
The Reds will without injured trio Jonny Hayes, Callum Roberts and Dante Polvara.
The visitors have yet to win an away game in seven Premiership games on the road this season.
Dundee United do, however, travel to Pittodrie on a high having beaten Kilmarnock 4-0 at home on Wednesday.
Goodwin said: “They played really well versus Kilmarnock.
“That has lifted them off the bottom of the table.
“Dundee United are a good side and showed that when we played them at Tannadice.
“They have some really good and influential players in their team.
“We need to be at our best to try to get maximum points.”
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