GRANITE 10ACITY
Dons equal Fergie mark and go 13 points clear in second
ABERDEEN might not be able to catch Celtic at the top but they have Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous Dons side in their sights after pulling off the perfect 10 at Pittodrie.
Derek McInnes’s men are just one short of the legendary manager’s 1983-84 team’s feat of 11 home wins on the spin after seeing off stubborn Inverness.
It took a scrappy own goal from Gary Warren 22 minutes in to get the better of the Premiership’s basement boys and strengthen their grip on second spot.
Aberdeen are not quite there yet but their 13-point advantage over Rangers is going to take some hauling in as the campaign heads into the home straight.
The Dons couldn’t stop the Parkhead procession but they still deserve 10 out of 10 for their efforts this season.
As for Inverness they’re propping up the division, although Richie Foran’s side showed again they are still in the fight.
Aberdeen created enough chances to be far more comfortable but at least Caley Thistle gave their support some hope they can escape the drop.
The Caley Jags can only peer up but the Pittodrie men are looking good going into the business end with a Scottish Cup semi-final against Hibs on the horizon and a third runners-up spot on the bounce within their grasp after a typically gritty Granite City display.
There was an unfamiliar sight in the Inverness ranks mind, albeit a well-known face in these parts.
Kevin McNaughton spent seven seasons at Pittodrie before heading south to Cardiff in 2006. His return north last summer lasted just seven games before suffering a brutal Achilles injury in August’s Highland derby.
It could have been a career-ending one for the 34-year-old former Scotland defender but he battled back to make a fitting first start on his old stomping ground as part of a back three.
The Dons fans gave their former hero a warm welcome while their side turned up the heat on Inverness from the off.
Aberdeen have been tough to crack in the Granite City. Their nine home wins on the spin going into last night equalled a Fergie record from 1985-86 and has left them within touching distance of sealing second spot.
They looked like a side in a hurry as Niall McGinn crept in at the back post to test Owain Fon Williams in the first minute only to be flagged offside. It was a statement of intent as McGinn and Jonny Hayes got to work doing what they usually do – dragging defenders all over and creating chances.
A neat shift inside and clipped ball from Hayes teed up his Northern Irish pal whose back header needed a bit more oomph to loop over Fon Williams.
Six of Aberdeen’s seven goals against Dundee five days ago came from crosses and there was another assault from the wide areas last night.
It has been a slog for bottom-of-thetable Caley Thistle with just one win – against Rangers – in their last 19 league games and three frustrating 1-1 draws on the spin before trolling across the A96.
But they have shown signs of life in recent weeks and caused problems at Pittodrie plenty of times in the past.
They did so again midway through the first half when Liam Polworth struck on the break to release Billy Mckay.
However, the striker was edged wide and his angled effort was snuffed out by Dons No.1 Joe Lewis at his near post.
Aberdeen remained on the front foot though as Graeme Shinnie’s long-range effort forced Fon Williams to divert wide and the ball somehow managed to find its way into the net from the corner.
Quite how it got there mystified most of the crowd as Hayes whipped the ball in, Andy Considine – fresh from his Dens Park hat-trick – got the nod then Ash Taylor and a couple of defenders pinballed it past Fon Williams.
Television replays couldn’t work out who got the final touch – it later went down as a Warren own goal – while even the Dons players didn’t have a clue what had happened. None of them were complaining though – they were too busy searching for a second.
Ryan Jack almost grabbed it only for
Louis Laing to hurl himself in front of the midfielder’s volley. Hayes wasn’t far off either with a deflected drive while Taylor came close to a more clear-cut chance with a header over the top.
Pittodrie-bound Greg Tansey nodded over to temporarily stem the red tide but sublime trickery from McGinn forced full-back Carl Tremarco to shovel out from inside his six-yard box.
McInnes’s side continued to push after the break with Kenny McLean letting fly a couple of times, including a deflected effort that spun to Anthony O’Connor who howled for a penalty before realising he was offside.
Inverness were taking heavy flak down the flanks but were still in it and almost pinched a leveller when Polworth drilled in a shot from 25 yards.
Lewis smartly shoved the ball to safety before normal service resumed with McGinn curling a free-kick narrowly over. Hayes, meanwhile, had another penalty shout after a nudge from Tremarco but referee Andrew Dallas wasn’t convinced.
The Dons pressed but Inverness were starting to get to grips in the wide areas to stop the constant barrage of crosses.
Foran’s side were also inching forward on the odd occasion to create an element of tension.
It would have eased had Fon Williams not kept Shinnie’s header out before Warren blocked his rebound and McGinn not lashed over. The Dons should have ended the contest but sub Miles Storey produced a miss that must be seen to be believed.
The striker was practically on the goalline when picked out by Hayes but somehow managed to clear it rather than prod over the line.
Fortunately for Storey there was to be no twist in the tale.
ABERDEEN – Lewis 8, Logan, 7, Taylor 7, O’Connor 7, Considine 7, Jack 7, Shinnie 7, Hayes 8, McLean 7, McGinn 8 (Christie 79, 2), Rooney 6 (Storey 79, 2). Not used: Wright, Pawlett, Alexander, Ross, Anderson.
INVERNESS – Fon Williams 7, Raven 6, Laing 6, Warren 6, McNaughton 7 (Fisher 85, 3), Polworth 6, Draper 6 (Cole 61, 4), Tansey 6, Tremarco 6, Anier 5 (Ebbe 67, 4), Mckay 5. Not used: Esson, McCart, King, McKay.
Referee: A Dallas.