ROSS CO 2 ABERDEEN 0
Dons suffer yet more woe as Graham’s double puts County third
TWO-goal Brian Graham consigned Derek McInnes’ Aberdeen side to their fourth defeat on the trot last night. Celtic can overtake the Dons at the top of the table when they face Motherwell this lunchtime
ABERDEEN’S calamitous crash to earth from heady early season hei g ht s gathered pace last night as Brian Graham’s double elevated Ross County to third in the Premiership.
The ex-Dundee United and St Johnstone striker netted a goal in each half to bring fresh agony to the league leaders, who could now be toppled from the summit for the first time this season if Celtic beat Motherwell today.
It was a fourth defeat in a row for the Dons, but County deserved it for a sturdy, spirited and inventive show.
After a shimmering blue, cloudless day around Dingwall, Aberdeen fans were intent on painting the town red — and showed up in typically impressive numbers.
Three successive defeats didn’t prevent the Red Army, in exuberant voice, filling County’s north stand.
A League Cup exit to Hibs and league defeats to Inverness Caley Thistle and St Johnstone before the international break had punctured that dazzling start of eight straight league victories.
This was the Dons’ first chance to make amends for their humiliating 5-1 thrashing at home by Saints.
It was also an opportunity to issue a riposte after the furore over l eague sponsors Ladbrokes closure of betting on manager Derek McInnes leaving the club.
County, too, were seeking to bounce back to winning ways, having suffered a deflating Highland derby defeat by Inverness before the international break.
The hosts made three changes, bringing back centre-back Andrew Davies, left-back Jamie Reckord and on-loan Leyton Orient goalkeeper Gary Woods, who replaced the injured Scott Fox. County also restored long-standing concussion absentee Craig Curran to the bench.
The Dons made four changes. Captain Ryan Jack was ruled out with a sickness bug, allowing Willo Flood to slot into the heart of midfield.
There was also a timely return for defender Mark Reynolds, absent with a shoulder injury since the European clash with Macedonians Shkendija in July, replacing Shay Logan and reclaiming the armband.
Aberdeen also changed shape — Andy Considine pushing forward as wing-back leaving a back three of Paul Quinn, Ash Taylor and Reynolds, behind a f i ve- man midfield.
Initially, the rejuvenated Dons looked lively, with County soon under pressure.
Inside five minutes, Reckord’s foul on Jonny Hayes drew howls from the travelling support, but Hayes’ dead-ball attempt from the angle was weak.
County, though, quickly counter- attacked. After nine minutes, Liam Boyce took a Stewart Murdoch, twisted and turned on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot lacked venom.
Aberdeen’s energy was strong, however, and two minutes later Michael Gardyne lost possession allowing Considine to feed David Goodwillie in the home box.
Goodwillie controlled the ball with his back to goal and tried an audacious overhead kick which was saved by Woods.
Soon after, Goodwillie whipped a 12-yard shot just wide.
County began to find a foothold in the game towards the middle of the first half, easing the pressure and taking the game to the Dons.
Amid the home pressure, there were a couple of penalty claims, firstly after 24 minutes amid a frantic scramble in the Aberdeen penalty area. Boyce had a sniff, before both Brian Graham and Chris Robertson had shots blocked. County claimed the latter’s effort had hit Graeme Shinnie’s hand.
Another Murdoch pass released Boyce in the box but the Northern Ireland striker sliced wide as the goal opened up before him.
Gardyne also went down in the box, but their penalty appeals were waved away.
Then when Richard Foster crossed from the left, Boyce’s header was well saved by Ward. The County breakthrough came nine minutes before the break.
Foster took a pass down the left and wound his way into the box and past a couple of f l ailing challenges.
Paul Quinn’s outstretched leg finally nicked the ball away from Foster but Graham strode in to tuck the opener away from inside 10 yards. For the first time, the large Dons support fell subdued. McInnes took action at the break, hauling off both Reynolds and Flood and blooding Shay Logan and Adam Rooney in more familiar formation.
But the changes did the Dons no good at all as they tumbled two behind after just four second-half minutes.
From a County ball forward, Quinn missed a header as Boyce thumped the ball forward.
Graham raced f orward with Considine hot on his tail, seemed to have miscontrolled but took a kind break of the ball and powered a shot past Danny Ward.
Boyce had a couple of chances to put the game beyond reach but the 11-goal striker, perhaps sapped by international travels with Northern Ireland, was uncharacteristically off the mark.
Niall McGinn hit the upright for Aberdeen after 62 minutes, but the Dons never looked convincing.
Time and again, County’s players put bodies on the line and threw themselves into challenges as the visitors pressed in vain.