Jimmy Thelin saluted last minute hero Oday Dabbagh and admitted it was the sort of Pittodrie debut that every Aberdeen new boy would wish for.
The Palestine international came off the bench to mark his Pittodrie debut with the only goal of the game against Kilmarnock, a dramatic 91st minute winner. The on-loan Charleroi frontman’s goal was enough to keep the Dons third in the Premiership, thanks to back-to-back wins. Thelin said: “It was good for Oday to get his goal in front of the supporters.
“It was good for him to get going. It’s important for a striker to score when they join a new club, if you could wish a start you’d wish that. It’s also other things for a striker to contribute to victories for the team, but goals are important of course. There can be a partnership between them, Kevin (Nisbet) has grown into the team, his fitness level, how he can compete for 90 minutes – he is much sharper.
“He is helping us in the build up to connect and also has the power to go into the box. So they can play together as a nine and ten as two strikers.”
The Pittodrie side’s new-found form will be tested to the maximum on Tuesday night against a Celtic team who will be hurting after their defeat at Hibs. The Aberdeen manager warned: “They are a good team with a good manager in Brendan so of course they’ll be ready for us at home. That’s football, we have to be ready also and take it from there.”
Aberdeen have won three games in a row, if you include their cup win over Dunfermline. It is also their first home league victory since November. “It is always nice when you win with almost the last ball of the game,” the delighted Swede insisted.
“It’s good to have that spirit. It was a difficult game to play in, a lot of stopping and starting, but we stayed calm and kept trying. How we won the game was really good to see and in the last 20 minutes we pushed more and more when things opened up.
“Of course, it’s nice to see the faces of the supporters and the players when we get the win. It was a tight game so it was good to get the three points.
“It is tight in the table, we have high expectations for the season so it’s good to keep pushing. We have to celebrate the small victories then we will look forward to the next game.”
The only downside for Aberdeen is that full-backs Jack MacKenzie and Nicky Devlin had to limp off. Thelin explained: “We brought Shinnie on as a left-back, he did really well.
“I know he played there a long time ago, blocking crosses and winning his duels as well as being part of the build-up. Nicky couldn’t keep playing and Jensen had cramp in the end so kept playing, which is good to see that attitude. Jack MacKenzie came off but it’s too early to say about the next match.”