WHAT A SHINN DIG
New skipper leads by example with wonder hit but Dons’ Euro hopes still in the balance
ABERDEEN might have lost skipper Ryan Jack in the summer but Graeme Shinnie wasted no time in showing he is the Dons new captain marvel.
The midfielder stepped up when it mattered most last night as he fired the Reds a step closer to a coveted Europa League play-off place with a priceless winner against Apollon Limassol.
It looked like being a case of deja vu for Derek McInnes after Ryan Christie fired them in front at Pittodrie – only to surrender that lead when Jander Santana levelled for the Cypriots.
That was a repeat of the previous round against Siroki Brijeg which left Aberdeen needing to find an away goal and they managed to go one better with a superb win in Bosnia.
But Shinnie led by example and capped a superb performance with a brilliant winner 12 minutes from time after Apollon had earlier been reduced to 10 men when Esteban Sachetti was sent off for punching Christie. And the victory gives Aberdeen a lead to protect in next week’s return in Larnaca as McInnes looks to reach the play-offs at the fourth attempt.
McInnes warned of Apollon’s attacking threat before the game but their roughhouse tactics were more problematic and some of their bruising tackles angered the home bench.
Apollon boss Sofronis Avgousti was also sent to the stand for racing on to the pitch to celebrate Santana’s secondhalf equaliser. That came after Christie, now with two goals and two assists in Europe, headed the Dons into a dream fifth-minute lead.
Celtic couldn’t find the net in their qualifier against Rosenborg 24 hours earlier but the Hoops loan man hasn’t struggled in Europe this season.
And if he can continue this form Scotland boss Gordon Strachan could have something to think about for the World Cup qualifiers in September.
McInnes was without Adam Rooney, the Irishman ruled out with a hamstring injury which makes him a doubt for next week. And returning Dons defender Kari Arnason had to content himself with a place on the bench as McInnes stuck with a central defensive pairing of Anthony O’Connor and Mark Reynolds.
That meant the Dons boss made just one change from the side that started the impressive win over Siroki Brijeg in Bosnia in the last round.
That switch came up front where Nicky Maynard made his first competitive start as the former MK Dons man replaced Jayden Stockley.
McInnes warned the Cypriots would be a step up in class from the previous round and predicted an attack-minded approach from the visitors.
But it was the Reds who started with real intent and their determination cost
skipper Shinnie an early booking after a crunching two-footed tackle on Brazilian Alex da Silva.
That still didn’t slow the frantic Dons down and they were rewarded for their lively start with the opener after just five minutes.
Christie was the man who started and finished the move, playing a one-two with Gary Mackay-Steven who delivered the perfect cross for him to send a great header high into the net.
It was all a pumped-up Pittodrie needed to get the place rocking and Apollon struggled to deal with the home side’s whirlwind start.
But Aberdeen took the lead through Christie in the first leg against Siroki only for the Bosnians to earn a draw.
And the Cypriots could have snatched an away goal when they got in behind Greg Stewart and Shay Logan down the right.
The ball found its way to Anton Maglica inside the box but his first attempt was saved by Joe Lewis and his second effort cannoned off his own player from the rebound.
Finnish referee Mattias Gestranius reached for his yellow card again after just 20 minutes but the home fans were screaming for a red.
That came after a wild challenge from Argentine stopper Sachetti who was lucky not to be given his marching orders.
Despite being noted for their goal threat Apollon didn’t seriously threaten in the first half but Lewis had to be on his toes to save Maglica’s shot from distance.
The Cypriots were showing signs of frustration and Spaniard Hector Yuste was next to earn a booking for a bodycheck on Maynard off the ball.
Aberdeen were desperate for a second goal to show for their dominance and Christie went close when he curled an effort just wide on the stroke of half-time.
Apollon’s main man Da Silva looked to be struggling with an injury and he was replaced by recent Steaua Bucharest loan winger Antonio Jakolis.
Aberdeen had another chance after the restart when Yuste slipped to leave Mackay-Steven clear down the left but his cross was poor with Maynard unmarked in the six-yard box.
But there was a warning sign at the other end when Santana pulled a shot just wide of the post after he dispossessed Kenny McLean.
And it was Apollon’s Brazilian who did grab the leveller just before the hour when he got on the end of a teasing cross whipped in by Jakolis to volley into the roof of the net.
It was clear how much that vital away goal meant as the visiting bench erupted and Apollon manager Avgousti was sent to the stand for racing on to the field to celebrate with his players.
The sucker punch came as McInnes was preparing to make a double change and he eventually got Stockley and Arnason on for Maynard and Mackay-Steven.
Apollon took the sting out of the home side but Christie could have scored his and Aberdeen’s second of the night with a good run and shot but Vale saved.
And after getting themselves back into the game a moment of madness from Sachetti left them a man down for the final 19 minutes after he took out Christie and the ref had no choice but to give him his marching orders.
McInnes looked to capitalise on that extra man advantage with his final change of the night as young winger Scott Wright replaced Reynolds for the final stages.
It was a bold move by the Dons gaffer but it made a difference. Although it was Shinnie who was the hero at Pittodrie as his 25-yard wonder strike won it.