Dons chalk up first win and train their eyes on champions
ABERDEEN manager Derek McInnes has turned his attention to Celtic after watching his side pick up their first win of the season over Partick Thistle.
The Dons travel to Glasgow next weekend for the first meeting between the sides this season and, with the morale boost of their first victory of the campaign, McInnes says they go into the match with confidence.
‘It was important we won today because I watched the first hour of the Celtic game and they were terrific,’ he said. ‘They have their mojo back. They are difficult to contain and have a lot of confidence.
‘They look like they’ll take some stopping but that’s the challenge for us and every other team.
‘Brendan (Rodgers) has put his stamp on the team and they’re off to a flying start. But it’s only a start and it’s up to everyone else to make it as difficult as possible.’
McInnes made four changes to his side which drew last week against Hearts as Kenny McLean, Miles Storey, Adam Rooney and Andrew Considine were all handed starts. Captain Ryan Jack missed the match with fluid in his knee.
It was an open game and Partick had a flurry of early chances but the Dons were able to keep them at bay until they started making strides of their own.
Aberdeen soon took full control and were carving Partick apart. The only thing missing from their performance was a goal.
Peter Pawlett should have done better when he burst into the box but he took too many touches and was tackled by Ziggy Gordon.
Partick weren’t entirely on the back foot and Joe Lewis had to be alert to save Ryan Edwards’ shot from close range.
Although McInnes flirted with it last season, Graeme Shinnie has become a permanent fixture in the centre of Aberdeen’s midfield this campaign. It is a role which few would have foreseen when he moved to Pittodrie from Inverness, but he has matured into the position well and possesses all the necessary attributes.
Off the ball, he is terrier-like in chasing down opposition but when on it, there is a patience that is rare in Scottish footballers.
It was this that led to the opener when he drew a foul from Abdul Osman. After goalless draws in their first two league fixtures, against St Johnstone and Hearts, it was a 208-minute wait for their first goal of the season but it was worth it when Niall McGinn curled the ball over the Partick wall and past the helpless Tomas Cerny.
Although the Dons’ first was a spectacular strike, the second — shortly before the hour-mark — was as scrappy as they come. Liam Lindsay was not composed under pressure and gifted the ball to Storey, who slotted it into the bottom corner.
Having chased shadows for most of the game, it was understandable that frustration would creep into Partick’s game.
With four minutes left to play, Sean Welsh was sent off with two bookings within 30 seconds of each other. Firstly for contesting with the linesman a foul he conceded, then another for debating the decision with referee John Beaton.
Chris Erskine grabbed a stoppagetime consolation for Thistle when he lashed the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald said that Welsh will be fined by the club.
‘There’s no need for it, regardless of whether you think it’s a foul or not,’ he said. ‘You can’t give any dissent. I think he was riled because he thought he got a touch to the ball. It doesn’t matter how frustrated he is. He’s let the rest of the boys down.’