Alan Pattullo: You know you have problems when Neil Lennon feels the need to offer some sympathy

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes during last weekend's defeat to Hibs as his side's bad run continued. He was in a similar predicament 12 months ago (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group)

But the Pittodrie club’s struggles were top of the Scottish football news agenda this time last year as well. The then much-praised Lennon stepped in to offer his backing to McInnes before a game between the sides

With McInnes reckoned to be on the brink, Aberdeen had just beaten Hamilton Accies 3-1 to bring to an end a sequence of five league games without a goal. Sound familiar?

They host St Mirren today hoping to turn things around after four games without a goal. Recalling his side’s plight 12 months ago backs up McInnes’ contention that he’s gone through such lean times before and has survived to tell the tale.

Still, he might now wish he hadn’t been so quick to cancel Curtis Main’s contract as problems pile up in the striker department, with Florian Kamberi unlikely to play a part this weekend and Fraser Hornby fighting off a bug.

Meanwhile, Lennon has once again been minded to hand McInnes some backing as he rounded on those displaying a despicable “bloodlust” for managers to lose their job, his included.

As someone quipped, you know things are bad when the Celtic manager, himself under considerable fire, feels compelled to offer some encouragement. McInnes might eventually applaud such gallows humour though possibly only after getting the win he so desperately needs this afternoon.

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