GRANITE GRIP HOLDS ON
Aberdeen let go of their ironclad defensive record — but comeback shows they have got steel to spare
DROPPED points? You wouldn’t have thought so as the Aberdeen faithful celebrated Ryan Jack’s late equaliser like a title-clincher.
If eight straight Premiership wins had proven Derek McInnes’ team adept at grinding out results, they displayed an altogether different quality in this match — and one that may prove just as important if they are to go the distance with defending champions Celtic.
You feared for the team in red after a one-goal lead gave way to a two-goal deficit during a brutal 10-minute spell around the interval and, as the clock ticked down, it was hard to see them fashioning a route back into the match.
Yet fight back they did with player of the month Jack’s late finish coming hot on the heels of a Jonny Hayes penalty as the home team laid siege to the Dundee goal.
Such drama was impossible to predict as the game drifted towards half-time. A goal to the good and territorially dominant, McInnes’ side had barely missed a beat as they looked to restore a four-point advantage at the top of the table.
Celtic’s win at Hamilton seemed to have done nothing to knock their confidence but it proved a fragile commodity from the moment Gary Irvine lashed home a powerful equaliser for Dundee.
A defence that had been watertight for eight consecutive league games was suddenly thrown into disarray and goalkeeper Scott Brown, so proud of his shutout record, would be beaten twice more before the day was done.
Take nothing away from Dundee. Each of their three goals was a joy to behold and a fine reward for Paul Hartley, whose efforts have not been aided by a spate of injuries. There were eight players out — most notably David Clarkson, James McPake and Paul McGowan — yet he sent out a team that matched the country’s form side.
Initially, it seemed like a continuation of normal service. Within seven minutes Aberdeen had the lead and the goal was the product of a well-oiled machine. All three front players were involved, Niall McGinn first beating Irvine to the punch before rolling Adam Rooney in down the right channel.
The Irishman advanced into the box and coolly delayed before he had a clear sight of David Goodwillie, who rammed home the finish which even a strong hand from Scott Bain couldn’t stop.
Backed by the majority of the 16,796 crowd, Aberdeen continued to attack with purpose and could, nay should, have increased their lead long before letting their guests back in.
Rooney was perhaps the guiltiest party, clubbing over from close range after Hayes’ shot was blocked, but McGinn, Hayes and Jack all came close too.
Dundee then ruthlessly exposed the perils of relying on a narrow lead. Irvine took advantage of a gift from Dan Twardzik to net in last weekend’s 4-1 thrashing of Motherwell but this weekend’s goal was all his own work.
You might criticise the Dons defence for being slow to react but the left-back threw his full weight into the rising shot that crashed high past Brown.
It was the first time in 757 minutes of league football that the keeper had conceded but, lo and behold, it was only a couple later that he was picking the ball out of his net again.
This time, you just had to sit back and marvel at the quality of the strike.
Greg Stewart’s intention was clear as he drove forward and slipped a pass into the feet of strike partner Luka Tankulic. The big German played his part to the letter, flicking a delightful back-heel into Stewart’s path, the perfect invitation for a quite sublime 20-yard finish with the outside of the left boot. Not bad for a player who plied his trade with Cowdenbeath last season.
It was great to see Pittodrie so full for the game — credit, too, to the Dundee fans for travelling in decent numbers — and the crowd responded to their team’s plight with a roar at the start of the second half.
They would doubtless have got louder had Rooney’s shot crept in rather than bouncing back off the post and before they knew it, they were further in arrears.
Gary Harkins was the silky assassin, volleying home after a half-clearance invited him to have a go with his left foot.
The 30-year-old’s strike was as good a piece of technique as Pittodrie will see all season but there was a deflection to help it on its way past Brown.
Clearly rattled, Aberdeen struggled to steer a clear path to goal. They got a lift when Goodwillie beat Bain to a loose ball and rattled the post from a tight angle, and the introduction of young subs Cammy Smith and Lawrence Shankland helped liven up the attack.
It was the latter who earned the crucial penalty, beating Kostadin Gadzhalov to the ball and finding himself felled by the Bulgarian inside the box. Yet again, Bain got his gloves to the ball, but Hayes’ penalty kick had enough power to find the net.
The final goal was one of those rare moments that sends a support into delirium.
Shay Logan flung over a hopeful cross, Shankland headed down in the box and Jack rammed the ball home from close range, to the unbridled elation of the home support.