Shay Logan urges Dons to stay disciplined in Riga

SHAY LOGAN insists Aberdeen will need another disciplined display in Riga next week if the team are to make it into the next round of Europa League qualification.

Derek McInnes will also hope his side can stay disciplined against FK Daugava Riga in their return leg clash. Picture:SNS

The club can certainly start preparing for a tie against Dutch side Groningen after the defender scored the first goal in a 5-0 thrashing of FK Daugava at Pittodrie on Thursday night. The only fear is a repeat of the overly physical approach the Latvians adopted in a disgraceful display during the drubbing in their first European game.

Thankfully, Peter Pawlett was the only injury victim of the tactics which resulted in two Daugava players being sent off in addition to seven yellow cards dished out by the French referee.

The visitors even had one of their backroom staff sent to the stand and the worry for manager Derek McInnes must be how they will respond in the potentially explosive second leg. His Aberdeen players certainly deserve credit for keeping their cool under extreme provocation and Logan admits it will take a similarly stoic attitude in Riga to see this troublesome tie out.

He said: “They know they probably know they won’t go through but we are in their backyard and anything can happen. We have to go there with the same mentality and 100 per cent discipline like we showed in the first game.

“I thought the referee handled it very well but, after our second goal went in, their heads dropped and it was really difficult for them. Then when they got the first man sent off the heads dropped again and after that they were clutching at straws.

“Some of the fouls were stupid. It was a lack of discipline but we kept 11 men on the pitch and we kept a clean sheet to take across there.”

Pawlett suffered an ankle injury which makes it unlikely he will take part in the second leg.