Three out of three as Dons keep their cool
Derek Mcinnes admits the Old Firm’s European resurgence and sparkling domestic form has put ambitions to split them temporarily on the back-burner.
Aberdeen’s stirring comeback from a disastrous start in Dingwall made it three wins in a row for the first time this season.
The victory also took them into third place above Motherwell overnight, but Mcinnes insists his only focus for now – despite trimming the gap on the top two to four points – is his own team. The Dons boss said: “We’ve done our bit after the defeat to Celtic and it’s pleasing to get nine points. The only negative was not getting a third clean sheet in a row but that is down to the decision in the game.
“Rangers and Celtic are in such a good place at the minute. You see them beating Lazio and Porto and it shows
ross County:
(4-4-2) Laidlaw 5; Fraser 5, Morris 6, Fontaine 6, Kelly 5; Mullin 6, Spence 7 (Chalmers 79, 3), Henderson 6, Gardyne 5; Graham 5 (Mckay 79, 3), Erwin 5 (Stewart 58, 5). Unused subs – Baxter, Mckay, Watson, Foster, Spittal, Chalmers.
Aberdeen:
you the level they are playing at just now. We just have to concentrate on ourselves and our points tally is up there with previous seasons.
“Regardless of where you are in the league it’s about getting as many points as possible and we’ll have a better idea of where we are come the turn of the year.
“Our trademark is going on winning runs and unbeaten runs and that’s what we are trying to do again.” County made a dream start inside five minutes when Lewis Spence strode forward and fed Michael Gardyne whose early pot-shot hit the arm of Lewis Ferguson.
The only question was whether Ferguson’s arm was in an unnatural position and if he was in the box. Ref Alan Newlands thought so and Josh Mullin sent keeper Joe Lewis the wrong way from the spot for his first Premiership goal. But the Dons reacted and levelled through Niall Mcginn after the ball struck Liam Fontaine’s arm outside the left edge of the 18-yard line. Northern Irishman Mcginn stepped forward and curled a lovely free-kick inside keeper Ross Laidlaw’s left-hand post.
Seven minutes into the second half, the Dons were ahead when Hedges flighted a 20-yard free-kick invitingly into the six-yard box and the ball spun beyond Ross Laidlaw and bounced into the net. Aberdeen carved a two-goal lead after 70 minutes. There were howls for a Dons penalty as Cosgrove tumbled just inside the area, with referee Newlands unimpressed.
But County’s under-pressure defence could only scramble the ball to the edge of the box where Andy Considine let rip with a ferocious left-foot strike that bulged the top corner of the net.
Home manager Steven Ferguson was frustrated that “cheap” goals had separated the teams.
The Staggies gaffer insisted there was little between the teams in open play but admitted mistakes again undid the game plan.
Ferguson said: “It sounds silly when you lose a game 3-1 at home, but we felt we had a decent game plan today.
“We feel we’re contributing to the goals we’re losing – and that’s the frustrating thing.
“We didn’t feel we were going to lose goals in open play. We felt we were frustrating Aberdeen and offering something in attack.
“For the two free-kicks, we felt we played a part in the goals, but also the third goal we were kicking ourselves as we just need to clear our box.”
(4-2-3-1) Lewis 6; Logan 6, Devlin 6, Mckenna 7, Considine 7; Leigh 6, Ferguson 7; Mcginn 7, Bryson 5 (Main 51, 5 ), Hedges 7 (Campbell 78, 3); Cosgrove 6 (Anderson 90, 1). Unused subs – Cerny, Taylor, Mclennan, Gallagher.
Wales-capped wide man RYAN HEDGES man probably didn’t mean to score from his swirling free-kick but asked the question of County’s defence with the curler – and came up trumps.
STAR MAN