Second place in sight for McInnes’ men as Rooney wraps up
THE first thing to say about this game is that it was not pretty, nor even remotely attractive to watch. But then Derek McInnes has never purported to favour entertainment over results and if you’re an Aberdeen fan, seeing your team
sit nine points clear of the Rangers should more than make up for it.
The statistics are what matter. They show that the Aberdeen manager has led his side to 30 home points from a possible 39, with their only defeat a 1-0 loss to Celtic last October. McInnes’ men were seven points behind Rangers in December, a fact indicative of Aberdeen’s diligence and determination to secure that runners-up place.
“It’s quickly gone to such a big lead,” he said. “We’re 14 points ahead of Hearts as well.
“There’s still too many games for us to play to think we’re home.
“The thing that is clear is that you can see the players enjoying winning, enjoying working hard and the togetherness of the team.”
As he has been so many times this season, Adam Rooney was the Aberdeen hero with a solitary strike, his 17th of the season.
His willingness to scrap for every ball liable to become available brought praise from McInnes.
But the Pittodrie outfit’s policy is play on the front foot and that suits Rooney’s style, refusing to allow the Staggies to settle.
The ease with which they won most of the high balls, not to say the resultant knock-downs, would have alarmed Jim McIntyre, the County manager, as he was
subjected to desperate defending from his team.
Rooney’s dramatic scissor kick in the 36th minute as he latchedon Ryan Jack’s header thrilled the home crowd, despite a simple save by Scott Fox, whose acrobatics in the Ross County goal soon after were deployed to prevent his side from going behind.
Joe Lewis’ call to arms, a minute before the interval, was even more impressive, however.
As Alex Schalk’s 20-yard freekick dipped and swerved and changed direction, the Aberdeen keeper had to compensate to affect his eye-catching save.
As he walked towards the changing-room for his half-time cuppa, Rooney would have rued his inability to connect properly with Jonny Hayes’ low cross.
As if to balance that out, Schalk hit a 25-yard screamer of a strike immediately after the restart as Lewis produced another stunning stop.
Schalk’s close-range flick-on from Andrew Davies’ header meant Lewis had to throw himself on to the County striker’s boot to block the effort.
But, when the Staggies defence took a collective eye off Rooney, the big Irishman ran to the near post, just where he needed to be when Kenny McLean’s low ball in from the right hit Davies on the shin before the Reds striker touched it past Fox.
Had Fox not produced yet another stunning save soon after, Rooney would have grabbed a second with a scissor kick.
County now find themselves swimming in relegation territory, just three points above bottom club Hamilton Accies although McIntyre put on brave face.
“The boys were excellent,” he insisted, “They stuck to the plan and frustrated Aberdeen. To lose the goal the way we did was just the way it’s been going.
“Aberdeen had a few chances late on when we had to chase the game, but our system was good for 70 minutes.
“We won’t feel sorry for ourselves because if we keep up that level of intensity and performance, we will get points and it will turn.
“Three weeks in a row we have lost late goals and it’s been sore, but we need to start punishing teams when we get our chances.
“The boys are doing everything they can and we’ll stick together.
“I know we are a good side, but we are in a dogfight right now.
“Every team from sixth place down is in that dogfight and it’s up to us to rise to that challenge, which we will when I see what I am seeing. It’ll turn.”
It’s quickly gone to such a big lead. We’re 14 points ahead of Hearts as well. But there’s still too many games to play for us to think we’re home