McInnes’ gamble pays off as supersubs strike to cash in on Miles’ misery
NOT only do managers stand and fall by their decisions — they c o me to be defined by them.
By the end of an engrossing afternoon in Ayrshire, Derek McInnes was able to reflect on the most satisfying of gambles. Neither Jayden Stockley or Peter Pawlett had started this game but their goal- scoring exploits late on completely turned the game on its head.
If the Aberdeen boss was entitled to bask in the glory of such telling, late changes, he wasn’t above sounding a note of sympathy for Lee McCulloch, a man whose introduction to the old management game was almost beyond cruel.
With his side a Rory McKenzie goal up with 13 minutes left, skipper Stevie Smith’s race was run. Miles Addison was sprung from the bench to see the game out but it proved the most calamitous cameo role.
The 28-year-old seemed caught in a trance as Stockley picked his pocket to equalise and was still getting to grips with things when Pawlett took full advantage of his negligence to seal the points 120 seconds later.
You had to admire Aberdeen’s chutzpah, though. McInnes’ side didn’t come anywhere close to hitting their heights of last Wednesday’s rout of Motherwell but they displayed different qualities to prevail here.
Deprived of their top-six berth by Partick Thistle’s win over Hamilton, Kilmarnock at least started with the look of a side that meant business.
The deployment of Conor Sammon on the left side of a f i ve - man midfield off ered balance to the side and support to lone striker Kris Boyd and McCulloch would have been heartened by how his side applied themselves.
Aberdeen are made of stern stuff these days, however, and soon imposed themselves on the home side. Ryan Jack’s effort from 25 yards was always rising but signalled that the day’s work had started.
Kenny McLean floated an early header wide and keeper Freddie Woodman looked in for a busy afternoon.
Jonny Hayes’ flick to eliminate Greg Taylor on the touchline was i ndicative of a player oozing in confidence. His low cross ran across goal to Niall McGinn and only a smart stop by the Kilmarnock goalkeeper prevented the opening goal.
Killie were not without their moments. Boyd and Smith worked a clever one-two but the striker was never going to win the foot race with Joe Lewis.
The Dons keeper was grateful f or t he bravery of Mark Reynolds soon after in blocking Sean Longstaff ’s thunderous drive from 20 yards and, as the half-hour came up, McCulloch knew his side were well in it.
Kilmarnock issued a textbook lesson in the importance of t aking your chances f our minutes from half-time.
Taylor hunted down a lost cause and his cross from the left f orced Reynolds to fl i ck a header on where Jordan Jones gathered. The accuracy of the winger’s cutback was matched by McKenzie’s finish.
McGinn had a volley saved before the break but McInnes wasn’t messing around, swapping Reynolds for Graeme Shinnie and going with a back three.
Just after the restart, Sammon demanded a spot-kick after Ash Taylor’s challenge but referee Andrew Dallas waved it away.
It wasn’t as if Aberdeen were short of chances. Jack guided a header over while McLean was just off target with one crisp low shot and forced Woodman into a fine low block with another.
But Kilmarnock showed resolve. Boyd almost spectacularly relieved the pressure with a 25-yard drive on the turn that had Lewis scrambling.
Andrew Considine went off with a head knock in the 72nd minute and McInnes opted to drag off Ryan Christie, too, with Stockley and Pawlett thrown in.
Addison replaced Smith as McCulloch tried to batten down the hatches but it backfired.
Six minutes after taking the field, the Englishman opted to shield a long ball in the hope Woodman would come.
Rooney and Stockley nipped in on his blindside and Addison watched in horror as the latter stabbed the ball home.
Two minutes later, Addison erred again. A weak clearance of McGinn’s cross put the ball into Pawlett’s path and his shot deflected in off the defender, with Woodman stranded on his line.