Subs sink Dundee as McInnes’s men rediscover killer instinct
ABERDEEN rediscovered their killer instinct when an inspirational double substitution secured what they hope will be the first of three priceless victories in the space of seven days.
The introduction of Jayden Stockley and Wes Burns with 16 minutes remaining proved to be the turning point as the giant striker scored the allimportant second goal and Burns won a late penalty which ensured victory.
However, the top performer was James Maddison, the loanee from Norwich, who scored on his first start to cancel out Kevin Holt’s strike and now Aberdeen hope they have momentum at last after a slow start to the season.
They face St Johnstone on Thursday for a place in the Betfred Cup semi-finals then they resume hostilities with Rangers at Pittodrie next Saturday.
A content Derek McInnes said: “Jayden and Wes certainly helped turn the game for us. We found our killer instinct and that was the thing we had been lacking. It was important to find that killer instinct. We are only six games in and we have only lost once – to Celtic at Parkhead – so there has not been a lot wrong. But the difference between winning games and drawing games is massive.
“I said at the start of the week we wanted six points and we want to get into a semi-final.”
Aberdeen had to recover from going behind in 13 minutes when Nick Ross flicked on Paul McGowan’s pass to Kevin Holt and he smashed a left-foot shot past Joe Lewis.
It was a shock to Aberdeen’s system as they had looked comfortable until that point. However, it only took six minutes to draw level even if it was a moment to forget for Dundee keeper Scott Bain.
It was fantastic play from Maddison as he twisted away from Tom Hateley outside the Dundee area then worked the ball onto his left foot.
The Dundee defenders seemed to back off and Maddison drove a low shot towards the left corner which squirmed under Bain before finding the net.
It was a clear error but Bain made up for his misjudgement nine minutes into the second half with a quite magnificent save.
Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie robbed Ross 25 yards out and hammered a terrific left-foot shot which the keeper somehow got his fingertips to and pushed it onto the crossbar.
The one-time Aberdeen player also stood up brilliantly to prevent Maddison from scoring a second goal in 66 minutes although the loanee from Norwich really should have scored.
Maddison was in acres of space as he took a pass from Niall McGinn just outside the box and had a clear one-onone with Bain.
However, a clumsy first touch allowed the keeper to narrow the angle and he made a fine block.
Even although these chances were the best ones of the second period, Aberdeen were not as dominant or fluent as they had been in first period.
Dundee were sharper and looked more dangerous with El Bakhtaoui a constant menace to Taylor and Anthony O’Connor. However, other than a Mark O’Hara shot which rose over the bar in 68 minutes the Dens Park side failed to really trouble Joe Lewis.
Aberdeen needed inspiration and the manager provided it by sending on Stockley and Burns for Adam Rooney and McGinn, both of whom made sure of a much-needed victory.
O’Connor started the move that led to the crucial second goal with a terrific cross-field pass for Johnny Hayes who was hugging the right touchline.
With one burst of electric pace, he left Kevin Holt for dead as he raced down the flank and hit a wonderful rightfooted cross into a perfect area.
Stockley could not have wished for a better delivery and he powered a header into the top-right corner.
It was effectively the match-winner but the Dons made sure when they won a penalty with just two minutes remaining. Burns used his pace to burst clear of Julen Extabeguren on the left side of the box, forcing the Spaniard into a lunging challenge and while he touched the ball he clearly took out the player and Steven McLean was perfectly placed to award the spot kick.
Kenny McLean took the responsibility and smashed the penalty off the underside of the crossbar.
Mark O’Hara was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card offence to further dampen Paul Hartley’s mood.
The Dundee manager said: “I don’t think we deserved to lose 3-1. I thought we played well and it was a good game of football.
“I thought we were comfortable in the second half only to have one lapse in concentration. I thought we dealt very well with their wide players, but it was just that one moment. We made a couple of mistakes at their first goal. We didn’t clear our lines and Scott has got to do better. Nine times out of ten he will save that and he knows he should have done better. But we are not here to crucify anybody. We win as a team and lose as a team.” Dundee Bain; Kerr, Extabeguren. O’Dea., Holt; Hateley (Loy 86), McGowan; O’Hara, Ross (Duffy 81), Williams (Wighton 69); El Bakhtaoui. Not used: Mitchell, Vincent, Low, Gadzhalov. Aberdeen: Lewis; Logan, Taylor, O’Connor, Considine; McGinn (Burns 74), McLean, Shinnie, Hayes; Maddison (Storie 83); Rooney (Stockley 74). Not used: Alexander, Reynolds, Pawlett, Storey. Ref: Steven McLean Att: 6,321