The Dandy yawns
But Aberdeen and Ramirez finally wake up to snatch draw
STEPHEN GLASS insisted he was confident the equaliser would arrive for Aberdeen – despite potential defeat staring Aberdeen in the face.
Christian Ramirez snatched a lastgasp strike to collect a point for the Dons and leave Ross County gutted they were unable to hang on for a first win of the season.
It was a battling, bruising display from the Staggies as they weathered a Dons storm for most of this pulsating game, making Malky Mackay proud of their willingness to be a force in the Premiership.
The visitors looked headed for all three points following Regan CharlesCook’s opener just after half an hour’s play but with the Pittodrie side pounding them and having threequarters of possession, it wasn’t to be.
American Ramirez saw to that as he pounced with two minutes of regulation time remaining.
Glass, happy to have reached the international break unbeaten, was pleased with signings Matty Longstaff, on loan from Newcastle, and Austin Samuels, brought in from Wolves until the end of the season, in particular.
Samuels’ lightning pace down the left was a headache for County and he set up a series of chances snuffed out by a stoic Staggies rearguard.
Glass said: “You’re hoping the equaliser is coming. We were creating so much and had so much possession.
“We carried a threat second half. If we’d had more quality it’s a different outcome.
“I was delighted how the players kept going and driving on and believing in themselves.
“Austin did really well. He was positive and direct and carried a threat. There were a couple of clearances he turned into chances.
“He gave us something a bit different with his pace and energy and forward thinking. We’d have liked Matty higher up especially first half but it’s difficult coming into these games. “I’m happy to be unbeaten but I’m disappointed not to turn possession into points. “It’s a group of players together for the first time. I don’t want to make excuses but we’ve not trained properly since the start of pre-season because of Europe. “But we get a chance to put that right because of going out of Europe it’s Saturday to Saturday and it’s important we make it right on the training ground.” Glass looks forward to welcoming former Rangers centre-back David Bates into his squad.
The Scotland cap, signed on a three-year deal from Hamburg, watched his new team-mates from the stand and would have been impressed by their attacking play.
Glass said: “He’s a top centrehalf, has pace and power and is a young Scottish international player so he’ll be a big part of the future. It’s important to bring people in with that age and profile.”
Ramirez has now hit five goals in seven games for the Reds with
his gaffer singing his praises after he save a defeat.
Glass said: “He’s done a lot of unselfish work for the team and it’s important for your striker to be scoring but a lot of training ground work is needed to make sure the top end of the pitch is better.”
It’s been a busy few days for Glass, bringing in attacker Marley Watkins on a three-year deal along with Samuels and Longstaff.
The last two were named in the Reds starting line-up with Watkins, making a return to the club he spent time at under previous boss Derek McInnes before a serious injury ended his loan and he went back to Bristol City, coming off the bench.
County, with just one point going into this game, still have to find their rhythm but the Dons weren’t in the mood to let them settle.
Longstaff was spoken to by ref Nick Walsh inside a minute as he made his presence felt in a challenge on David Cancola. The County defender was replaced 20 minutes later with what looked like a groin injury as Harry Paton came on and had a hand in his side’s strike.
Before then, the visitors almost took the lead in the 13th minute. Jordan White’s well-weighted ball into the path of Ross Callachan left the midfielder with a one-on-one with Dons keeper Joe Lewis, whose brave block rescued the Reds.
But 20 minutes later, Paton was first to react as low ball came across from the left and as Lewis beat down his shot, Charles-Cook raced in to smash the loose ball into the net to stun the Red Army into silence.
The hosts had to wait until the 88th minute to create some real noise. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas sent a clever ball into the path of Jonny Hayes and when his effort was spilled by County keeper Ross Laidlaw, it was Ramirez who was there to force the ball home.