FINAL WARNING
Dons limber up for Celtic showdown at Hampden with an impressive show ABERDEEN will go into next Sunday’s Betfred League Cup Final against Celtic on the back of successive wins and with sufficient belief that they can deny Brendan Rodgers his first trophy success.
With respect to Partick Thistle and Inverness, completing a hat-trick of away victories will prove much more testing.
But the Dons will arrive at Hampden in good heart after a Kenny McLean double and another from Adam Rooney, from the penalty spot, saw off the home side.
Although Inverness took the lead through Guinea international Lonsana Doumbouya after quarter of an hour, in truth they rarely looked likely to stretch their unbeaten run against the Dons to five matches.
And manager Richie Foran spoke with refreshing candour when he labelled his team’s performance ‘very disappointing’.
Counterpart Derek McInnes understandably had few complaints when he assessed his side’s performance and the result.
‘Celtic have proved a tough nut to crack for everybody this season, ourselves included, and nobody expects anything other than a victory for them,’ he conceded.
‘But I am confident that we have the players who can take the opportunity to bring a trophy to the club.
‘We should have a full squad to choose from and I’m pleased with the way we’re playing. We have certain players in good form and we’ll go there in good shape.
‘We will need to get the balance right between attacking and defending, but our intention is to go there and try to win the cup and we will only enjoy the occasion.’
McInnes bemoaned the manner of the opening goal, but he added: ‘The players’ response was excellent, Kenny McLean’s free-kick and then the penalty kick.
‘Although the game was never over until the third goal, I felt our victory was well deserved and coming here to face an Inverness team in good form and scoring three goals is positive.’
Aberdeen’s victory also keeps them in second place in the Premiership, one point ahead of Rangers, while Inverness slipped from sixth to seventh.
The home side have the best strike rate in the top flight but they also have the poorest defensive record, having now conceded 27 goals.
And having drawn 1-1 in the corresponding fixture at Pittodrie in September to achieve their best-ever Premiership run of four matches unbeaten against the Dons — two wins and two draws — Inverness were clearly up for it.
But Aberdeen’s early industry also suggested that they had the bit firmly between their teeth, McLean’s third-minute snap shot from 20 yards testing Owain Fon Williams.
However, Inverness drew first blood with their maiden attempt on goal after 15 minutes.
Doumbouya, who made his international debut against Conga a week ago, stooped low after escaping from his marker Anthony O’Connor to head Ross Draper’s cross into the net from eight yards.
But it was as well that Gary Warren was in place to block McLean’s second attempt from Jonny Hayes’ cross from the right.
McLean’s growing influence on the encounter was highlighted after 28 minutes when he levelled the score with a powerfully struck free-kick from 25 yards low to the goalkeeper’s right.
Several of the Inverness players questioned the validity of the award after Aaron Doran was deemed to have fouled James Maddison.
The home players were even more vexed when Aberdeen were awarded a penalty five minutes later.
Warren looked to have some grounds for complaint when he was adjudged to have impeded Hayes’ run from the halfway line into the penalty box, given that the winger’s momentum was a factor in him going down in spectacular fashion.
But Warren and his team-mates’ protests were to no avail and Rooney subsequently beat Fon Williams with the power of his kick when the goalkeeper guessed correctly and dived to his right.
Fon Williams denied McLean a second goal almost on the stroke of half-time, saving the midfielder’s speculative effort from 35 yards at the base of the post.
The Wales international also thwarted Andrew Considine before McLean was close to hitting the target from long range as Aberdeen attempted to put the result to bed.
But they enjoyed a spot of good fortune when Graeme Shinnie, the former Inverness player, escaped censure for a reckless challenge on Brad McKay which resulted in the full-back being stretchered off.
It later transpired that McKay had not suffered serious injury and Foran expects him to join his team-mates at training this week.
In truth, Aberdeen were worthy winners and when Josh Meekings was unable to nullify the threat posed by Hayes, the former’s low pass was converted into a goal by McLean with a minute remaining.
Foran added: ‘Nearly all over the park we were second best, with the exception of Doumbouya and Fon Williams.
‘They looked a far better team than us and full credit to them.’