McLean strike gives hope to Dons

Aberdeen found themselves two down inside the first 22 minutes of the third qualifying round first-leg match but substitute Kenny McLean lashed home an away goal in the 69th minute to leave the tie in the balance.

McInnes, quoted on his club's official website, said: "I did not think we were brave enough when we did not have the ball, we did not do enough to impose ourselves on the game.

"Unlike in Croatia when we were not punished, we were here with two bits of real quality that we knew Kairat had.

"For the first goal there was good interlink play but we have dropped a runner and at this level you are always likely to get punished if you do that.

"The second goal, the strike is from about 40 yards. I thought we were too deep as a team in that opening period.

"The response from my team was exactly what I thought it would be. We did not roll over. We came out fighting.

"If we play for the full 90 minutes in the second leg the way we played the last hour of the game here then I feel we have an excellent chance to go through. But we still have it all to do.

"I think Kairat are still the favourites as we still have to score. But if we do score then one goal could be enough. We will have 20,000 supporters ready for the game."

McLean also netted in Aberdeen's 3-0 win at Rijeka in the previous round and McInnes felt the January signing from St Mirren was again rewarded for his positivity.

"I thought previously people were far too hard on Kenny. I think he did absolutely fine for us last season," McInnes said. "But when there is a fee involved everyone expects more.

"Time and time again he was getting into goalscoring positions. He always backs himself to score and now he has two goals and people start to recognise the qualities he has got.

"He has qualities that others don't have. Last season he was trying to impose himself on a side halfway through the season, and had to find a position in the team. This season he is starting afresh. He will be a big player for me."