Aberdeen centre-back Andrew Considine left the pitch on a stretcher after a nasty first-half knee injuryAberdeen manager Stephen Glass has branded Qarabag’s pitch a “disgrace” after falling to a first-leg play-off defeat in Europa Conference League qualifying.The visitors failed to get going on the rutted surface as Jaime Romero’s strike claimed a one-goal advantage.Glass’ side remain alive in the tie, but centre-back Andy Considine appeared to suffer a worrying knee injury.”Before the game I didn’t want to use the pitch as an excuse,” Glass said.”But we’ve seen the reality of it there, it was a disgrace, and it probably resulted in Andy getting injured which is a terrible thing to see happen at this level.”The game shouldn’t be played on a pitch like that, both teams deserve better.”Reaction & as it happenedThe surface proved to be an issue for both sets of players in the opening stages, but the hosts settled quicker with Tural Bayramov skipping through a challenge and sending Joe Lewis to his right to tip an effort wide.With lumps of turf appearing to dig up on every player’s step, you feared a serious injury could be around the corner.And so it proved when Scotland centre-back Considine challenged for an aerial ball before collapsing to the deck.Jonny Hayes replaced Considine but the change did the Scottish side no favours as they failed to compose themselves, with Qara Qarayev seeing an ambitious strike drift wide of Lewis’ right-hand post.The hosts soon got the goal their first-half performance merited when… Click below to read the full story from BBC Sport
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Qarabag 1-0 Aberdeen: Stephen Glass brandishes home side’s pitch a ‘disgrace’ in first-leg defeat
