Ash and Adam strike to close the gap on Rangers
ABERDEEN brought their ‘A’ game to Pittodrie as they recorded back-to-back festive victories to ensure the race for runners-up spot is back on.
Ash Taylor and Adam Rooney broke down Hamilton’s resistance to move the Dons to within four points of second-placed Rangers.
Taylor had given Aberdeen the lead in 34 minutes but they were pegged back four minutes later by Dougie Imrie’s controversial penalty.
However, the Reds were not to be denied as Irishman Rooney popped up with a 68th-minute winner for his 10th goal of the season.
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes kept faith with the same starting XI that had won 3-1 in Motherwell in a Friday night Fir Park thriller.
And they faced an Accies side who had gone nine Premiership games without a win – since a 1-0 home victory over the Dons on October 25.
Mark Reynolds headed home Niall McGinn’s corner in four minutes but referee Andrew Dallas had blown for an infringement in the box long before the ball hit the net.
Jonny Hayes started brightly for the Dons and the wideman fizzed a couple of low crosses into the danger area but there were no takers.
It was Martin Canning’s side who had the first serious effort on target in 16 minutes when midfielder Darian MacKinnon cracked in a low shot that had Aberdeen No.1 Joe Lewis diving to his right to turn round the post.
In 19 minutes Hamilton’s Dougie Imrie pulled off a remarkable overhead goal-line clearance after Taylor’s header was saved by Gary Woods.
Dons midfielder Graeme Shinnie fired wide of target from the edge of the box after being teed up by Rooney in 26 minutes.
MacKinnon then hauled Hayes to the ground around 30 yards from goal when he was in full tilt.
From the resultant set-piece Hayes floated the ball over and Taylor rose to guide a fine header into the bottom right-hand corner of the net to give the Dons the lead.
However, Aberdeen’s joy was shortlived as Hamilton were awarded a dubious spot-kick after Lewis was adjudged to have taken down Danny Redmond in the box.
Dallas pointed to the spot and booked the keeper before Imrie stepped up and expertly levelled the game from 12 yards.
The Dons tried to quickly hit back as Taylor smashed in a 20-yard shot that Woods superbly tipped over.
Hamilton defender Mikey Devlin was lucky not to concede a spot-kick when he blatantly barged Rooney in the box.
Ten minutes after the break Louis Longridge rattled a shot off the legs of Lewis following Redmond’s corner.
Dons defender Shay Logan almost gifted the hosts a 65th-minute lead when he was slack with a pass and MacKinnon released Rakish Bingham who sprinted clear of the Dons defence.
He crossed for Ali Crawford but the normally reliable midfielder stubbed a weak effort from 10 yards and a grateful Lewis palmed the ball away.
It proved a crucial miss as moments later Aberdeen went ahead.
Substitute James Maddison crashed in a drive that Woods could only spill into the path of Rooney who gleefully slammed home the rebound.
Hamilton’s day went from bad to worse in injury-time when Scott McMann saw red for hauling down Hayes outside the box.
While Aberdeen deserved their win Hamilton will feel it was rough justice on them as for large spells they more than held their own.
However, Accies boss Canning doesn’t have his problems to seek as the visitors slumped to their 10th Premiership game without a win.
Hamilton remain 11th on 16 points alongside Inverness.
HAMILTON ACCIES
Clawed away Taylor’s header and saved well from Shinnie’s low effort. Loved the combat in engine-room and got stuck right in. Threw himself in front of everything but looked weak in the air at opener. Lucky to get away with what looked like a shove on Rooney in the box. Youngster battled away in engine room then saw red in injury-time. Given a torrid time by Hayes but had an effort that Lewis saved well. Ran through and was allegedly cleaned out by Lewis in incident that led to Accies penalty. Cracked in a decent first-half drive that was well saved by Lewis. Produced an acrobatic goalline clearance and netted from spot. Still has a keen eye for a pass but spurned a sitter. Anonymous for large spells but set up great chance for Crawford.
Eamonn Brophy – came on to chase leveller, 3. Alex D’Acol – replaced Bingham, 3. Massimo Donati – on late, 1. Not used: Thomson, Seaborne, Kurtaj, Sowah.
Andrew Dallas.