WRIGHT STUFF
Teenager grabs a treble as Dons hit Thistle for six to send a Hampden final warning to Celtic
LAST week, Aberdeen ended a 26-year hoodoo by finally beating Rangers at Ibrox. Yesterday, they sent out a Scottish Cup final message to Celtic by racking up their biggest win at Firhill since Willie Miller’s side thrashed Thistle 7-0 in November, 1992.
At the heart of it all was 19-year-old midfielder Scott Wright, who marked himself out as a star of the future by scoring a sensational hat-trick in what was only his second start for the Dons.
Indeed, any Celtic fans believing an unbeaten Treble has been pre-ordained would do well to study the highlights of this encounter and think again.
Derek McInnes’ men are clearly hitting their stride at exactly the right time, as a hapless Jags side — who have badly lapsed since securing their top-six place — can testify.
Aberdeen wasted no time asserting their superiority, taking the lead in the seventh minute from a set-play. Thistle’s defence could have done better but there was no disputing the quality of the finish.
Jonny Hayes played his part with a deep delivery to the far post, where Adam Rooney nodded it back into the danger area for Ryan Christie.
The loanee midfielder, who will be forced to sit out Saturday’s Scottish Cup final against his parent club, showed the travelling support what they will be missing with a beautifully controlled finish, drilling his shot beyond Mark Ridgers from 12 yards.
Chris Erskine briefly gave the home fans hope of a revival with a 20-yarder which went just wide, but the traffic was mainly flowing in the opposite direction.
Anthony O’Connor saw a net-bound shot blocked before providing a cross which Ash Taylor headed against the crossbar. The danger wasn’t over, though, with teenager Wright first to react to the rebound, driving it behind Ridgers to open his account for the first team. He didn’t have long to wait for his second. As Thistle chased the game, Aberdeen hit them with a sucker punch.
Skipper Kenny McLean made a 40-yard run from inside his own half before releasing Wright. The youngster’s angled drive left Ridgers with no chance.
Thistle’s Ade Azeez had a similar attempt saved by Joe Lewis, with David Amoo arriving just too late to convert the loose ball.
Aberdeen were rampant, however, and notched their fourth before the half-hour mark with a superb team goal.
McLean was once again involved, on this occasion, supplying Shay Logan on the right flank. The full-back’s driven cross was dummied by Rooney and the unmarked Hayes was left with a simple finish from eight yards.
The Dons were now relentless. Wright’s cross picked out Christie, who was chopped down by Liam Lindsay. It was a clear penalty but referee Euan Anderson dismissed the visitors’ claims.
Partick’s Ryan Edwards then saw a free-kick from 40 yards tipped over by Joe Lewis, while Azeez saw a shot from six yards blocked by Taylor.
Andrew Considine then collected the first yellow card of the match for a late tackle on Erskine which, if nothing else, underlined how seriously Aberdeen were taking this game.
The left-back made a more positive contribution on the stroke of half time, firing over a cross which Christie met on the half-volley to fire home from the edge of the penalty area. Five nil!
It prompted chants of ‘Derek, sign him up’ from the visiting support. Thistle’s players, by contrast, were jeered as they headed for the sanctuary of the dressing room.
Alan Archibald had replaced Amoo (out of position and out of sorts at right-back) after only 30 minutes. Strangely, however, he made no more changes at the interval, while McInnes — with Hampden in mind — replaced McLean and Mark Reynolds with Rangers target Ryan Jack and Peter Pawlett.
It made little difference to the pattern of play. Aberdeen continued to surge forward while Thistle stood off them, perhaps wary of damaging their flip-flops for the summer holidays.
Young Wright, already having an afternoon to remember, claimed the match ball when he sent a thunderous shot inside the far post from 25 yards.
He may have had to arm wrestle team-mate Christie for possession of the ball, though, with the on-loan Celt inches away from claiming a treble of his own with a raking shot.
Despite being six goals up, Pawlett blatantly dived in an attempt to win a spot-kick and was deservedly cautioned by referee Anderson for simulation.
Jags substitute Mark Lamont received the biggest cheer of the day when he was booked for a foul on Logan. Frankly, the rest of his team-mates rarely looked interested enough to put in a challenge.