DonsD keep focus amid McInnes speculation
Aberdeen 2 Christie (12), McLean (52) ross County 1 Gardyne (9)
He masterminded a victory that keeps Aberdeen nipping at Celtic’s heels.
But whether Derek McInnes will be around to drag the Dons closer remains to be seen.
With reports linking the Reds gaffer with Rangers swirling around Pittodrie, goals from Ryan Christie and Kenny McLean secured a comeback win over Ross County, who had claimed an early lead through Michael Gardyne.
The win lifted McInnes’ side to within a single point of Celtic after Kilmarnock clinched a draw at Parkhead.
Yet the hot topic at full-time was whether Rangers would swoop for their top managerial target in the coming days.
McInnes has a “no comment” policy when it comes to “speculation”.
Fortunately, there was no need to speculate over the quality of his side’s display.
On the rare occasions they have needed a saviour of late, Aberdeen have been able to rely on star stopper Joe Lewis.
However, karma – referred to in football as the “these things even themselves out over a season” factor – dictates that the yin of the stunning save must be balanced by the yang of the absolute howler.
Gardyne’s opener for County – a speculative 30-yarder, which seemed to squirm through Lewis rather than past him – suggested the Dons keeper was due one of the latter.
The Pittodrie punters, still bruised after their side’s midweek humbling by Celtic, groaned in unison as Lewis pressed his face into the turf.
But to his credit, he didn’t linger in shame – and neither did Aberdeen.
Just three minutes later, they were level thanks to comeback kid Christie, whose neat one-two with Stevie May bought him space to launch a 20-yard rasper past the helpless Aaron McCarey.
How the Dons could have done with on-loan Celt Christie’s pace, trickery, directness and end product against his parent club.
How that might have changed the nature of the debate that thrummed around the stands while compact, disciplined County denied the Dons a clear path to goal.
Had Celtic finally slipped up here on Wednesday night, and had Aberdeen been top of the league, would the
prospect of a move to Rangers seem quite as appealing to Granite City gaffer Derek McInnes, if indeed it appeals at all?
Talking of ifs, buts and maybes, the Dons might have gone in at half-time 2-1 ahead had Christie, lurking at the back post, tapped Scott Wright’s flick-on into the net instead of the advertising boards.
He certainly should have – but Aberdeen weren’t denied the lead they deserved for long.
Seven minutes into the second half, Graeme Shinnie surged into Ross County’s box only to be pulled back by Jamie Lindsay.
Whistler Don Robertson pointed straight to the spot and up stepped McLean – another reported Rangers target – to plant a sweet penalty into McCarey’s bottom right hand corner. The Dons had a raft of chances to increase their margin of victory, the most spectacular of which saw Christie cannon a fiendishly dipping 30-yarder off the bar.
But in the end, it didn’t matter. 2-1 was enough to send the Dons support home singing Derek McInnes’ name.
They will hope to sing it again.