Super subs put Dons in second

ABERDEEN had two substitutes to thank after they climbed back into second place in the Scottish Premiership table above Rangers.

The defeat of visitors Partick Thistle means that the Pittodrie side now hold a 14-goal advantage over the Ibrox men and have a game in hand.

Jayden Stockley’s header finally broke the Jags’ resistance with 18 minutes to go before fellow sub Ryan Christie scored his first goal for the Dons since his loan move from Celtic in stoppage time.

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes named an unchanged starting line-up for the seventh game in a row. They have won six of those matches, with defeat against Celtic last Wednesday the only hiccup. It was not the most glittering of Pittodrie performances, but it was all that was needed to regain the title of best of the rest behind the Parkhead side.

The hosts almost took the lead in spectacular fashion after 13 minutes. Ash Taylor’s punt from the back was not eye-catching but it did pick out lone striker Adam Rooney, who nodded down to Jonny Hayes.

Without letting the ball bounce, Hayes flicked it inside to Kenny McLean which left the flat-footed Thistle defenders scrambling to get in a block as he fired a half-volley goalwards. Fortunately for them, his shot was straight at goalkeeper Tomas Cerny.

It was then the visitors’ chance to slice through their opponents’ defence, and Taylor had to be alert when David Amoo burst down the right wing. His ball was low and destined to be converted by Kris Doolan, unmarked at the back post, but Taylor managed to block the cross before it reached him.

Cerny then had to deal with the threat of Andrew Considine. Hayes, who was stationed on the right wing, swung in a cross which Rooney missed with an attempted overhead kick allowing Considine to get a shot on target. Again, it was straight at the goalkeeper.

Then Christie Elliott, the visiting left-back who was sent off midweek against St Johnstone for a stamp, should have scored.

Thistle have appealed the decision which allowed the 25-year-old to feature yesterday. He controlled Ryan Edwards’ flick into the box on his chest, but his foot rolled over the top of the ball as he tried to get his shot away on the volley.

Aberdeen then drove forward. Niall McGinn’s corner was direct in picking out Taylor at the front post, but the defender’s header was off target, narrowly missing the top corner. Unmarked, he should have done better.

After the break, the back and forth flow of play continued. Thistle were the first to threaten when Edwards met an Elliott cross at the back post. He had most of the goal to choose from with Dons keeper Joe Lewis scampering across his line, but he failed to hit the target.

McInnes then decided to change things and brought on Christie and Stockley for defenders Mark Reynolds and Shay Logan. This meant that the Dons were now three at the back, with captain Ryan Jack acting as a sweeper in the middle of Taylor and Considine.

The change immediately set Aberdeen on the front foot. When Hayes saw a shot from distance palmed wide by Cerny, it allowed the tall Stockley to impose his primary attribute.

McGinn whipped in the corner and Stockley powered his way to the ball amongst a gaggle of defenders to give his side the lead.

It was his first goal since scoring against the same opponents at Firhill in November, on that occasion a delicious chip to seal a 2-1 win. This was not as glamorous, but it was just as effective.

They should have been two ahead shortly after. McLean launched the ball forward from his own half, over the top of the Thistle backline. Rooney was alert to it and raced in on Cerny, but his low effort was saved well by a strong forearm from the Polish custodian.

Christie added a polish to the win in stoppage time when Stockley clipped the ball back and the youngster poked it into the net.