Super subs Stockley and Pawlett rescue Aberdeen
● Addison’s cameo off bench in sharp contrast as Killie defender is culpable for both Dons goals
On an afternoon when substitutions had a dramatic and sharply contrasting impact on the respective teams, Aberdeen extended their remarkable run of success against Kilmarnock in thrilling fashion.
Derek Mcinnes saw his introduction of Jayden Stockley and Peter Pawlett reap a rich dividend as both scored in the closing stages to overturn a lead provided to the home side by Rory Mckenzie four minutes before half-time.
It was a painful conclusion to the contest for Kilmarnock’s interim manager Lee Mcculloch, who saw one of his own substitutes play a wretched role in the Ayrshire club’s 13th consecutive league defeat against the Dons.
Miles Addison entered the fray in the 78th minute, replacing the injured Stevie Smith who had excelled in a holding midfield role in front of the back four, where central defenders Gary Dicker and Kristoffer Ajer had been equally solid.
Mcculloch’s re-jig of his line-up saw Dicker advanced into midfield, with Addison stepping in at centre-half. The big Englishman, who has only recently returned from a lengthy injury absence, was culpable for both of Aberdeen’s goals.
It was a harsh outcome for Mcculloch, pictured right, who had overseen an otherwise positive performance from the Killie players, one which suggests he deserves to be in pole position for the vacancy created by Lee Clark’s departure to take charge of Bury last week.
If Aberdeen were flattered by the victory, however, that was of no concern to their supporters who celebrated a ninth win in their last ten Premiership games, a sequence which has seen them firmly seize the initiative in the race to finish runners-up behind runaway leaders Celtic.
Mcinnes’ men could not repeat the free-flowing football which had seen them crush Motherwell 7-2 with such panache last Wednesday night but this was a result every bit as significant for the Dons boss, who savoured the alternative qualities of resilience and doggedness his team displayed.
“It is no coincidence that we have had a lot of late winners between the 80th and 90th minutes in my years at the club,” reflected Mcinnes.
“We have had it this season as well and it is part of the identity of this team. That indicates the fact that we have players who can change the game coming off the bench and the mindset of the substitutes when they come on.
“I also think it shows the determination of the players to keep going. The performance was in total contrast to the match against mother well but it is still the same three points.”
There was no shortage of purpose in the Aberdeen display and they were initially the more threatening side, if only mildly, during a tepid start to the contest. Ryan Christie might have done better with a couple of clear headed opportunities, created by Ryan Jack and Niall Mcginn, which the on-loan Celtic playmaker guided wide of the target.
Kilmarnock ‘keeper Freddie Woodman made a smart save to keep out a close-range Mcginn effort but, for the most part, Aberdeen were well contained by the 4-1-4-1 system Mcculloch deployed.
The hosts gradually grew into the game as an attacking force and went ahead in the 41st minute. Greg Taylor’s cross from the left was only partially cleared by Mark Reynolds, the ball dropping to Jordan Jones who turned and cut it back into the path of Mckenzie on the edge of the penalty area. The midfielder’s sweetly struck first time shot beat Joe Lewis to the ‘keeper’s right.
Mcinnes made his first change of the day at halftime, replacing Reynolds with Graeme Shinnie and switching to a three-man defence. It exposed Aberdeen to the threat of a second Killie goal on the counter attack, one which Kris Boyd came agonisingly close to grabbing with a fizzing 20-yard shot which flew just wide.
Kenny Mclean forced a sharp save from Woodman at the other end, then dragged another shot narrowly wide, as Aberdeen intensified their efforts to save the game. It was just as their momentum appeared to be stalling, however, that the subs made such a telling contribution.
Addison’s first error allowed Stockley to nip in between him and Woodman to snaffle the equaliser with a closerange finish in the 83rd minute. Two minutes later, Aberdeen were ahead when Addison’s attempt to clear a Mcginn cross saw him play the ball straight to Pawlett. To compound Addison’s misery, his effort to make up for the mistake merely saw him deflect Pawlett’s shot beyond Woodman into the net. KILMARNOCK: Woodman, Hendrie, Dicker, Ajer, Taylor; S Smith (Addison 78); Jones, Longstaff (Umerah 89), Mckenzie, Sammon (Wilson 82); K Boyd. Subs not used: Macdonald, S Boyd, M Smith, Roberts. ABERDEEN: Lewis, Logan, Taylor, Reynolds (Shinnie 46), Considine (Stockley 72); Jack, Mclean; Hayes, Christie (Pawlett 72), Mcginn; Rooney. Subs not used: Alexander, O’connor, Wright, Storey.
“It is no coincidence that we have had a lot of late winners between the 80th and 90th minutes in my years at the club” DEREK MCINNES