Del hails his lethal ‘gambler’ Rooney

DEREK McInnes praised Aberdeen striker Adam Rooney after the Irishman’s 17th goal of the season earned victory over Ross County.

Rooney has now struck 74 times for the Dons since his move from Oldham in 2014, and is just outside the top 20 in the club’s all-time scorers list.

His goal against the Staggies came about from a fortuitous bounce off Andrew Davies which struck Rooney and found the net, and McInnes said: “It’s a mistake from Davies. He should have gone with his left foot, but it comes to nothing if Rooney doesn’t anticipate and gamble.

“You watch any highlight, even if it’s not a goal, and Rooney’s always hanging about, anticipating the mistake and ready to pounce. If he thinks Davies is clearing it, it goes into Scott Fox’s hands.

“He got his reward, and he’s worth his weight in gold. It’s another goal in the six-yard box, and when other strikers might be knocking off, he’s just gambling.”

The Dons were light on strikers with the in-form Jayden Stockley missing with a shoulder injury and only Miles Storey on the bench as backup.

However McInnes expects Stockley to be back in contention for the midweek trip to Hamilton.

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre insists his side can put their recent poor form behind them as they travel to Hearts in midweek, saying: “I think we’ve got good players and I know we’re a good side. Right now we’re in a dogfight, there’s no two ways about it.

“Every team from sixth down is in a dogfight and it’s up to us to rise to that challenge, which we will. When I see what I did against Aberdeen today, it doesn’t worry me. It will turn. We can’t continue with that amount of bad luck.

“We’ll stick together and look forward to Hearts on Wednesday.”