No let-up from Dons
Ruthless performance delights manager Derek McInnes after four-goal rout, reports Neil Cameron
ANY more performances like this and Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes might find himself once again fending off suggestions his team can mount a challenge to Celtic. While that might be asking a lot even of such a talented side, and this season there is strength in depth to go along with ability at Pittodrie, the men from the north east appear once more to be the best of the rest and possess the potential to enjoy an even better campaign than the previous one.
Ross County did them a favour by playing most of the game a man down; however, Aberdeen were superb. Their passing and movement was a joy to watch at times and in James Maddison, on loan from Norwich City, they have a genuine talent who has come north with the right attitude.
“It was a good day’s work, a strong performance,” said McInnes. “The players by and large did the right thing more often than not. We got the balance right although I would have liked more crosses in the second half. We scored four goals and kept a clean sheet against a good team.
“Since we won late on at Dundee we have shown a killer instinct and some of the players’ performance levels have gone up.”
Next up is Morton on Saturday at Hampden in the League Cup semi-final and a great opportunity for Aberdeen to reach a final.
“Morton got a great result winning 5-0 at Queen of the South who are a strong team and that’s good for us,” said McInnes. “It’s good we saw them at their best, although we didn’t need a warning because any team in a semi-final is more than capable.
“It’s a big deal for us. I want us to go there, play well and bring our best performance. But for me it’s all about getting through.”
This outcome was never in doubt. Aberdeen had the ball in the net after 12 minutes when excellent delivery from a Maddison free-kick had the County defenders on the back foot, Adam Rooney got to the ball, headed home and was left dumbfounded by the linesman’s flag.
The Irishman came close again to an opener on 19 minutes after superb wing play by Niall McGinn, his cross to the back post was good, but for once Rooney’s accuracy was missing as he headed over.
The wait for an Aberdeen goal was to last another minute. Jonny Hayes got on the ball and into the box, his attempt of a shot was deliberate but a deflection off Marcus Fraser helped deceive County keeper Scott Fox.
And then things got really sticky for the Dingwall men. On the touchline, with no inkling of anything too dramatic happening, Ross County’s Tim Chow was guilty of a ridiculous foul on Hayes. Referee Craig Thomson didn’t need to think over pulling out his red card.
It was then a case of by what margin Aberdeen would win by. A second goal was inevitable and it came on 33 minutes.
The move began with a cheeky back-heel by Maddison which bamboozled his apparent markers, he played a one-two before pulling his cross back to Graeme Shinnie whose shot from 20 yards was kept out by Fox, the ball fell loose and Shay Logan tapped home.
Hayes was in a mood to entertain and three minutes before the break his brilliant free-kick from outside the box and right of centre was pushed onto the crossbar by a Fox fingertip.
County had spent over half an hour pinned back until right at the end of the half when Aberdeen switched off, Michael Gardyne got into the box and his shot was superbly saved by Joe Lewis. In added time Gardyne got in between two Aberdeen players and pulled off a rocket of a shot which Lewis somehow got a hand to.
The second half was much flatter but it was still all Aberdeen. McGinn missed something of a sitter on 62 minutes but soon made up for that. The impressive Logan got down the wing, cut back for the Northern Irishman who took a touch before sending his shot into the corner.
Fox pulled off another fine save to push away a Hayes shot which was really travelling, but a fourth was always on the cards and on 79 minutes substitute Jayden Stockley dribbled his way into the County area, his first shot was blocked, his second found the back of the net.
For Jim McIntyre, the Ross County manager, it was a day to forget. He said: “We needed one of the chances at the end of the firsthalf to go in and stabilise us. The third goal killed the spirit but the lads kept going.
“Tim deserved the red card. He jumped in with two feet but he apologised and will learn his lesson from it.”
We have shown a killer instinct and some of the players’ performance levels have gone up