Jimmy Thelin has accused red card sinner Slobodan Rubezic of lacking “emotional control” as free falling Aberdeen lost 2-0 at Motherwell to make it TEN games without a win.
The Montenegrin defender only returned from suspension at Fir Park but was sent packing in the 43rd minute for violent conduct after catching Tony Watt with his head. Rubezic argued the collision was accidental but ref Nick Walsh stuck by his decision after a VAR review.
The dire Dons, already a goal down, then lost a second from the resulting free-kick as Tawanda Maswanhise added to Ewan Wilson’s opener. Dons coach Peter Leven was also red carded at half-time along with well counterpart Richard Foster after a flare-up in the tunnel at the break.
And Thelin said: “I haven’t seen it yet. But I think it’s always important for players to have emotional control in difficult times to be on the pitch. I don’t want to talk about that now, but I say it’s also important to have emotional control when you play football. I haven’t seen the situation, I don’t know exactly, but for me it’s always important that you don’t give the opponent some extra energy or give them some extra to play 11 vs 10.”
Aberdeen have now taken just three points from the last 30 available and their woes have deepened with Thelin admitting defender Gavin Molloy and striker Ester Sokler are set for lengthy spells on the sidelines after missing the trip to Lanarkshire. Thelin wouldn’t provide detail on the injuries as he awaits a specialists’ report.
But he said: “They’re going to stay out for a long time, both of them. We keep working with trying to improve the team and stabilise the squad. The doctor will say exactly the right things about it. But they’re going to be out for some more weeks. Back this season? I hope that yes.”
The Dons boss is now desperate to add January reinforcements to his squad and wouldn’t rule out the first arriving this week. He said: “Let’s see, but I know there’s a lot of work ongoing right now and we have to give some quality inside and stabilise the squad right now because we have some injuries.”
Thelin admits the woeful run that’s seen the Dons throw away a nine-point lead on Rangers in second place to slump to fourth in just two months is his toughest spell as a manager. The 47-year-old said: “Even for me, it’s the first time through this period as a manager.
“I think it’s really important that you are strong and focus on the right things and don’t hesitate what you believe in and try to understand the direction of the team you want to keep building. That’s the most important thing, don’t hesitate in the things you want to get through with and keep progressing as a team and be better, because it’s so easy to doubt the wrong things and these kind of things.
“But I think still inside, I think second half today you can see the character of the players and what’s on the pitch. You are in a bad run, you have 2-0 against you, you are playing with 10 men, but still they are trying and as long as they have this spirit and they try, then always find a way out.
“That’s the most important thing to see from the game today and also the supporters who travel here and stay to the end of the game. As long as we can keep this togetherness, it’s going to be a way out of this situation and be much stronger.”