SECOND SKELPINGS
Aberdeen hit Gers with double whammy by keeping McInnes as their gaffer and jumping back above them in the table
FIRST they stopped Rangers pinching their manager, now Aberdeen have wrestled back the second spot in the Premiership they’ve come to consider their own property.
In the end only Scott McKenna’s first goal separated the Dons from a spirited Dundee side who will look back and curse Dons keeper Joe Lewis for repeatedly thwarting them.
But whether the away side had scored a barrowload or won by a slender margin at Dens Park didn’t matter on this night at all.
Because a win – their first in three games – was all that mattered to put the icing on the cake of a pleasing last 24 hours that saw the Pittodrie club retain the services of their manager and enjoy the satisfaction of frustrating Gers into the bargain.
A contented McInnes said: “Tonight was important for supporters who have been put through the wringer, not happy with performances. We’re still second in the league, we’ve got a good team here. It was important that we sent supporters home happy.
“Even from the warm-up, the supporters were eager to show their solidarity with everyone here.”
“Concomitant You Reds” proclaimed the banner unveiled by the Dons fans before kick-off in a cheeky swipe at the bizarre statement issued by Rangers in retaliation to McInnes’ snub.
Few things in life Aberdonians love more than getting one over their most hated rival. So after seeing their manager tell Gers no thanks, the Red Army marched south in numbers intent on enjoying a Friday night party.
No surprise then that McInnes emerged to a hero’s welcome as he applauded the punters then ran down the Dens Park touchline as if excited to be taking his place in the Dons dugout – a sight that just 24 hours earlier most Reds fans feared they would never see again.
Such a pre-match boost inevitably saw Aberdeen start with their tails up and skipper Graeme Shinnie nearly got them off to a flier with a drive from the edge of the box that flashed just wide.
An early booking for Dundee’s Sofien Moussa for a mistimed lunge on Frank Ross suggested the home side were struggling to adapt to the Dons’ high tempo. But the Dens men soon found their feet.
Roarie Deacon chased Moussa’s 15th-minute head flick and bore down on Lewis but the keeper stayed big to
close out the danger and win their head-to-head duel with a vital block.
Dundee were enjoying the clearestcut chances, with Deacon’s stinging drive from 22 yards forcing an equally impressive save from Lewis sprawling to tip it over his bar.
Shay Logan copped the second booking of night two minutes before the break for taking out Faissal El Bakhtaoui as he tried to break forward.
McInnes shuffled his pack during the break with Ross making way for Kari Arnason – and it took just three minutes after the restart for the Dons to forge ahead.
Ryan Christie’s free-kick into the box was headed out by Glen Kamara but only as far as Kenny McLean on the right and he quickly swept a tempting low ball back into the danger zone.
McKenna was wrestling with Jack Hendry in the box and the Dundee defender will be frustrated when he watches this back to see how easily he was brushed off by the Don to poke home his first goal for the club.
It took more heroics from Lewis to prevent a leveller in 57 minutes when Jon Aurtenetxe’s corner found Moussa at the back post to nod a downward header, only to be scrambled clear by the keeper on his line.
The home crowd were becoming increasingly frustrated with referee Nick Walsh and their screams only got louder when Aurtenetxe went down in the box under pressure from Arnason. But the decision that the Dundee man had tripped looked the right call.
Bookings for McLean and Dundee full-back Cammy Kerr bookended a home side change, swapping Paul McGowan for Scott Allan after 62 minutes. That freshness sparked a late Dundee flurry but in the end the Dons held strong. McInnes milked the moment, celebrating with his fans, while behind him his assistant Tony Docherty and Neil McCann were embroiled in a furious row before being separated by the officials. At the end of a turbulent week, it was no surprise this game ended with emotions running high. Dens boss McCann said: “We deserved to take something from the game. Joe Lewis made two very good saves and there was also a shout for a penalty. “It shows respect that Aberdeen decided to camp in and hit on the counter. I’m disappointed because the boys put in a lot of effort.”