Easy as 1-2-3 for Considine
Aberdeen defender Andrew Considine celebrates his hat-trick in last night’s Dens Park rout —
IT was the night when defeat for Aberdeen would have clinched six titles in a row for Celtic, ushering in the first title of the Brendan Rodgers era. It was not to be. Far from it, indeed.
The Dons averted the title party by ruthlessly burying Dundee in their own backyard with a quite blistering, sensational showing.
In thrashing the Dark Blues on their own turf, Derek McInnes’ men ensured Celtic can now win the championship under their own steam at Tynecastle tomorrow.
But they also sent out a warning to their own chasing pack that when it comes to the race to finish best of the rest, the Dons are very much in a league of their own.
Dundee had not won in this fixture in the league in 13 years. But even their most sceptical fans could not have predicted what lay in store here as the electrifying visitors raced into a four-goal lead by half-time.
Left-back Andrew Considine grabbed a hat-trick. Yes, it was that kind of night.
Further goals came from Adam Rooney, Kenny McLean, Ryan Jack and Niall McGinn.
The goal glut ensures Aberdeen have opened up a commanding 11-point lead over nearest challengers Rangers.
Pedro Caixinha’s first visit to Pittodrie a week tomorrow was already a mouthwatering prospect.
It is now also a must-win if the Ibrox side are to retain any pretence of catching the Dons.
Aberdeen started like a train, setting the tone from the start as they terrorised Dundee, hemming the home side into their own half and forcing a series of corners.
Considine came close to opening the scoring when he nodded over a delivery from McGinn. But Considine would go on to enjoy better luck in front of goal on a night of truly abject defending by Dundee.
The Dark Blues caved when Jonny Hayes sent in a corner from the right and this time Considine made no mistake, rising highest and glancing into the net past the despairing Scott Bain.
Dundee had barely kicked a ball of note but their night was only going to get worse.
Next, Shay Logan slung over a ball from the right and Rooney was there to head past Bain for 2-0. And when McLean found himself in space down the right, he danced easily past Kevin Holt before dispatching a clinical finish into the far corner.
As the sizeable Red Army roared their appreciation and sang how easy it all was, the Dundee fans showered their unimpressive team with jeers.
But it got more embarrassing when Graeme Shinnie’s delivery, which seemed to hang in the air long enough for Bain to come for it, found Considine unmarked and he nodded past the keeper under no pressure for his second.
Hartley stamped his foot on the turf in front of his dugout in frustration at the latest example of schoolboy defending by his side. He did not have the luxury of the Dundee fans who chose that moment to vote with their feet and head for the exits.
The Dons support chanted McInnes’ name repeatedly as they showed their appreciation of a sizzling first-half showing.
Aberdeen quickly made it 5-0 after the break when McLean burst down the left and sent in a ball for Jack to whack the ball low in off the post.
In the game’s few brief lulls, the Aberdeen fans intermittently chanted their appreciation of McInnes and implored McGinn to stay at Pittodrie. Earlier this week, the Dons boss confirmed the Northern Ireland international is likely to be in the English Championship next season.
McGinn duly showed why they hold him in such high esteem by sliding in a Ryan Christie delivery at the back post for 6-0.
On a night to forget for Dundee, it proved an evening to remember for Considine as Ash Taylor flicked on a Christie free-kick and he bundled in his hat-trick.
As the Red Army hailed their heroes for putting them in seventh heaven, the message from the travelling hordes was loud and clear: ‘Bring on the Rangers’.