Aberdeen 0 - 0 St Mirren: Mark Reynolds urges Aberdeen to ease burden on Vernon

The Dons drew a blank for the fourth time in their opening five Clydesdale Bank Premier League fixtures when they were held 0-0 by St Mirren at  Pittodrie on Saturday.

Vernon was guilty of passing up a gilt-edged chance to win the game in the final minute but Reynolds insists the Englishman cannot be blamed for the team’s profligacy.

He said: “It’s definitely hard being a striker, especially when the team is playing well but not scoring. Scott is also playing well and putting himself forward to try to score the chances.

“Sometimes it just doesn’t come off but it just takes one to go in and,  once he breaks his duck, they’ll keep coming. He is still getting on the ball, working hard and the rest of his game is brilliant.

“We are looking to Scott to score the goals as he is our main striker but it is not just on his shoulders.

“The wide men and the midfielders need to be chipping in as well. It is a team problem but I’m sure the goals will come sooner rather than later.”

Reynolds says the Dons need to keep believing in the way they are playing after dominating three home matches already this season but only coming away with three points instead of nine.

He added: “We are playing some nice football and keeping clean sheets, which is important, but we just can’t score.

“The biggest thing is that the longer these things go on the more people can pick up on them and then the harder it becomes and the more pressure there is. I think we need to realise that we are still playing some good football.”

St Mirren manager Danny Lennon, who admitted his side were fortunate to leave the Granite City with a point, feels confident that Aberdeen will have a good season once they start finding the back of the net.

He added: “I must compliment Craig Brown and Archie Knox for what they have built here over the last year and  a bit.

“It is a massive club with a proud history. When you come to a big club like this there are big expectations and  Craig and Archie have been in the game for many years and have a great deal of experience.

“They have brought Niall McGinn, Gary Naysmith and Jonny Hayes in along with the experience of Russell Anderson, Mark Reynolds, Stephen Hughes and Gavin Rae and I think there is the makings of a good Aberdeen  side there.

“They will be frustrated, as it is goals that win you football games but it was nice to see their philosophy of trying to play out from the back.

“I thought they gave our boys the utmost respect as they never gave us a minute all day.”