Lee Sharp shuts out Aberdeen alarm bells but confesses Hampden recovery time 'no excuse' for Hearts humiliation

The Dons management team have come under scrutiny after just one win from eight games since the World Cup break.

Lee Sharp insists there’s no alarm bells ringing at Aberdeen and is backing manager Jim Goodwin to ride the perfect storm which has hit Pittodrie.

Wednesday night’s 5-0 humbling at Hearts has heightened the pressure on the coaching duo. But Sharp is convinced the Scottish Cup clash at sixth-tier Darvel could help them turn a corner. The Aberdeen assistant boss said: “Anyone who knows Jim will tell you about his desire to succeed. Clearly the defeat at Tynecastle wasn’t acceptable. We were rightly criticised and must react with fight and spirit. That needs to start against Darvel.

“Since we came back from the break we’ve had two Old Firm games – ideally we should have seen out the Rangers game and won but we didn’t. Against St Mirren, we had a man sent off when we were playing very well. We were poor and deserved to be beaten by Kilmarnock.

“We battered Ross County at home and should have won then we did the same to St Johnstone and won that game. Then we had Rangers in the semi-final of the League Cup and the boys were excellent but we were up against it after having a man sent off.

"We had two days to recover from Hampden before Hearts who had two extra days. That’s not an excuse but it didn’t help.”

Looking ahead to the trip to Ayrshire tomorrow, Sharp added: “Darvel signed a few of our players when Jim and myself were at Alloa. Daryll Meggatt, Jason Marr and Jordan Kilpatrick moved there so they have boys we know. It’s also a game that will be played on an excellent surface so we are looking forward to it.”

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