The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Hedges targets a perfect finish
Ryan Hedges hopes he has timed his return from injury at the perfect time to help push Aberdeen towards a third place finish in the Scottish Premiership.
The Wales international returned from a pectoral injury after one day short of three months to score what proved to be the winning goal as the Dons beat Livingston 2-1 to secure European football for an eighth year in a row.
The win also moves Aberdeen to within three points of thirdplaced Hibs with two games remaining and, with the two sides due to go head-to-head at Pittodrie next Wednesday, the Dons are back in the hunt.
Hedges said: “On the whole it has been a poor season for our standards but we have two games now to put it right. Hibs come to us a week on Wednesday which is a massive game for us and hopefully we are still within reach of third place.
“I’ve been out for three months nearly to the day so it is nice to be back playing amongst the boys and to top it off with a goal was even sweeter.
“My pec tendon came out the bone so I needed surgery to reattach it and stints to hold it in place but the surgery went really well and the recovery and rehabilitation process has been really good.
“I can’t thank the physio team enough for all the work they have done with me to get me back way ahead of schedule.
“It wasn’t a nice one and I had four weeks of being in a sling not being able to do much.
“Since then we’ve kicked on and thankfully I’m back playing rather than watching from the stands.
“Four to six months was the original diagnosis and I thought I’d be lucky to see preseason so all credit goes to the physios, Adam Stokes and my willingness to work at it and get back among the boys.”
Hedges’ first appearance for new manager Stephen Glass was certainly an impactful one as he scored within five minutes of his appearance from the bench.
The attacker enjoyed his 20 minute cameo and hopes he has shown enough to be involved again in the final two fixtures against Hibs and Rangers.
He said: “Just to get on was nice for me but to top it off with a goal was the best way it could have ended. We’ll see how my body reacts to playing during the week and see where I’m at.
“If I’m on the bench and can make an impact like I did at Livingston then great, but if I can start then that would be perfect.”
European football beckons for the eighth year running but it will be a new challenge which Aberdeen will face after booking their place in the inaugural Conference League this summer.
Goals from Callum Hendry and Ryan Hedges gave the Dons victory at Livingston as they ensured they will finish no lower than fourth in the Scottish Premiership.
But this win also keeps Aberdeen’s hopes of catching Hibernian for third place flickering after the Easter Road side were beaten 1-0 by St Johnstone.
Just three points separate the Dons and Jack Ross’ side with the two teams set to square off at Pittodrie next week. Victory for Aberdeen will take the race for third to the final day and if nothing else Aberdeen deserve credit for refusing to accept their fate.
The penultimate away league fixture of the season for Aberdeen brought a new role for Connor McLennan as he was deployed in a right-back role by manager Stephen Glass.
With Jack Mackenzie also back in the fold at leftback the changes allowed Jonny Hayes to push into an attacking role but it was the home side was dominated the opening 10 minutes.
Livi started on the front foot against the Dons but despite enjoying territorial advantage in the Aberdeen half they failed to test visiting goalkeeper Gary Woods.
It took Aberdeen until the 12th minute to get within shooting distance of the Livingston goal but they almost made their first chance count as Lewis Ferguson forced Max Stryjek to scramble back and tip his 22 yard strike over the crossbar.
From the resulting corner Niall McGinn’s delivery was poor but the ball was cleared back to him and his second cross was pinpoint as he picked out Callum Hendry who saw his header saved on the line by the home goalkeeper.
This was a rugged, competitive, physical affair and as such there was no real flow to the game. Aberdeen were content to soak up the pressure and hit on the break and Dylan McGeouch was a key figure for his side in helping them deal with the Livi attack.
From timely interceptions to his composure in possession, the midfielder was the buffer in front of the makeshift back four and Livi found chances hard to come by.
When they did get sight of goal Woods was equal to the task and he made a fine save to keep out a Craig Sibbald drive.
The fiery nature of this game was epitomised by an incident which led to both Sibbald and McLennan being booked for an off the ball incident.
McLennan lashed out Sibbald who had tripped him after playing a pass before Sibbald came close to earning a second caution for another trip on Niall McGinn as he raced towards the Livingston goal.
Livi’s best chance to break the deadlock came before the break when McLennan’s pass back was intercepted by Matej Poplantik but the striker fired wide.
The home side came to rue that chance as the Dons opened the scoring seven minutes into the second half.
It was harsh on Stryjek who made a terrific save to keep out McLennan’s header from a McGinn cross but there was nothing he could do to prevent Hendry from converting the loose ball to give the Dons the lead.
The scene was then set for Ryan Hedges to mark his return in style as he doubled the Dons’ lead within five minutes of his return to action.
A day short of three months since he suffered a pectoral injury against Livingston at Pittodrie, the Wales international finished off a sweeping counter-attacking move for his side when swept home a first-time effort from a Florian Kamberi cross to seal victory for his side.
It was a typical classic, confident finish we have come to expect from Hedges whose guile has been sorely missed during his three-month absence.
As first impressions go in front his new manager, it could not have been more impressive but the two-goal advantage only lasted five minutes as Jack Fitzwater crossed for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to volley a terrific first-time effort past Woods to set-up a tense finale.
There were a few scares in the closing stages but Aberdeen did enough to secure a hard-earned victory.
LIVINGSTON (3-4-3) – Stryjek 7, Devlin 6, Fitzwater 6, Guthrie 6, Longridge 5, Sibbald (Kabia 66) 6, Bartley 5, Pittman 5, Poplatnik (Mullin 75) 5, Holt 6, Emmanuel-Thomas 6. Subs not used – Maley, McMillan, Lithgow, Forrest, Diani, Ambrose, Serrano.
ABERDEEN (4-2-3-1) – Woods 6, McLennan 6, Hoban 7, Considine 7, Mackenzie 6, Ferguson 7, McGeouch 7, Hayes 6, McGinn (Hedges 70) 6, Kamberi 6, Hendry (Hornby 64 (Kennedy 88)) 6. Subs not used – Ritchie, Ross, Campbell, Gallagher, Ruth, Kennedy, Ramsay.
Referee – Grant Irvine 7.
Man of the match – Dylan McGeouch.