Dodds, who played for Aberdeen between 1994 and 1998, watched the game on radio duties and wasn't surprised by the way the team was set up.
But the jug-eared pundit, who won the League Cup while wearing the famous red-and-white, fears for his former club in the second leg of the delicately-balanced qualifying match.
Dodds said: "Aberdeen can attack sometimes but I know what McInnes and his assistant Tony Docherty are like. They won a lot of games 1-0 last season and their mentality seems to be that while it is great if you win games by two or three goals, the main thing is simply to get the win.
"The way they see it, if you are leading narrowly after 75 minutes then you are better to see it out with four centre-halves across your back line, a solid midfield in front of them and look for chances on the break with the pace of Niall McGinn and Peter Pawlett.
"That approach may mean they are better equipped for the away game in Groningen. They are certainly still in the tie, because the big advantage was not losing that away goal.
"Aberdeen got some great results away from home against Celtic and other good teams last season, so they are all set up to go there and get something. If they can defend well, and nick a goal, then that might be enough to knock this Dutch team out. Then, tactically, Derek would have been spot on last Thursday night, by being what I would say was over-cautious.
"But it could just as easily backfire on them, too. While Groningen never looked like scoring they were probably waiting for Aberdeen to come out and play, and were surprised that they never really did.
"This time, they could come out and have a go, score a few goals, and leave Derek thinking: 'I wish we'd had more of a go at them at our place'. That is how delicately balanced the tie is."
Source: The Herald