Pure gold /Dons ease pressure on Mcinnes with win at Hamilton
● Mcinnes back in favour with fans who had turned on him during his side’s barren run
Niall Mcginn celebrates scoring Aberdeen’s second goal in their 3-1 defeat of Hamilton Accies at the FOYS Stadium last night.
The victory, in which all three of the visitors’ goals were scored in the first half, came as a huge relief to the Dons, and in particular their under-fire manager Derek Adams, as it ended a Premiership goal drought which had stretched back 454 minutes before the game, in which they also secured their first league victory of 2020.
Curtis Main had opened the scoring after 15 minutes and, following Mcginn’s strike, Connor Mclennan added the third in first-half injury time.
Marios Ogkmpoe found the net for the home side six minutes from the end.
Hamilton remain second bottom of the Premiership.
Aberdeen ended their goal drought in emphatic fashion with a first-half goal blitz at Hamilton to secure their first Ladbrokes Premiership win of 2020.
Derek Mcinnes’ charges had gone 454 minutes without a goal prior to this encounter but they brought the unwanted run to a halt after only 15 minutes when Curtis Main opened the scoring and sent them on their way to a convincing 3-1 win
Main had been given the nod ahead of top goalscorer Sam Cosgroveanditwasadecision which paid off for Dons boss Mcinnes.
Niall Mcginn claimed the visitors’ second eight minutes later and in first-half injurytime Connor Mclennan added a third. Marios Ogkmpoe grabbed a late consolation for Hamilton.
Aberdeen fans have turned on Mcinnes in recent weeks but the 423 members of the travelling support, who should be applauded for braving the winter weather, were chanting his name after Mclennan’s goal.
Hamilton, however, remain rooted in a relegation dogfight and face a massive clash with bottom-of-the-table Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday.
If they are to start moving up the table then they must tighten up at the back, having shipped 18 goals in their last six outings. Hamilton were first to threaten when David Templeton darted in behind the Aberdeen defence, latched on to to a flick from Ogkmpoe, however he was unable to steer his lob over Joe Lewis on target.
Aberdeen’s long wait for a goal was finally ended in the 15th minute when Main opened the scoring. Andrew Considine played a long ball over a flat-footed Accies defence and Main showed great composure when in on goal to deftly chip the ball over Luke Southwood.
The visitors doubled their advantage eight minutes later. Main gathered a throwin and flicked it to Lewis Ferguson, who then laid the ball off for Mcginn and the winger was allowed too much space inside the penalty area as he passed the ball beyond
Southwood. Things got worse for the home side as captain Easton was forced off with what looked like a dislocated shoulder after landing awkwardly following a challenge by Main, to be replaced by Shaun Want.
Easton’s lengthy treatment meant there were six minutes of added time and during that period Aberdeen claimed a third as Mclennan steered a headerfromaconsidinecross into the bottom corner.
Accies made two changes at the interval, with David Moyo and Will Collar coming on for Templeton and Sam Woods.
Aberdeen pushed for a fourth goal and Main had the ball in the net but was flagged for offside.
The hosts pulled a goal back with six minutes remaining through Ogkmpoe, who slotted home a pass from Moyo – but it was too little, too late.