Wide boys’ special show boosts Dons

SAM COSGROVE proved himself a real 10 out of 10 as Aberdeen got their league season back on the rails — but it was wide men Niall McGinn and Ryan Hedges who took top marks from a game the Dons simply had to win.

Derek McInnes’ side had failed to score in their last two league matches, putting the ball in the net in just one of their previous five fixtures in all competitions.

But the reintroduction of McGinn and Hedges after being left out of the line-up for the stalemate at Kilmarnock brought a freshness that delivered a straightforward victory over a Ross County side missing seven established faces.

Both players were involved in Greg Leigh’s opener, with Cosgrove netting his 10th in 10 outings from the penalty spot moments later.

McGinn then set up Hedges for the clincher five minutes into the second half.

‘From the first roll of the ball, we were very bright with our work,’ said Pittodrie manager McInnes. ‘We stamped our authority on the game and were everything we weren’t at Kilmarnock last week.

‘Our front three pulled their defence all over the park, our full-backs pushed high up the park and there was an intent to get the first goal.

‘I’ve said often enough that our wide players have to contribute and they gave us assists and goals today.

‘If you freeze the picture at any time the ball was in the box, McGinn and Hedges were constantly in scoring positions. That’s what we demand of our wide players and both were influential.

‘The four boys who came in, Ryan, Niall, Mikey Devlin and Zak Vyner, all did really well. It shows what can be done when we are more positive with our work and forward play.

‘I spoke to Ryan during the week and he is working hard to maintain the standard. We all know wide players can be a bit up and down in their performances but he was certainly on it today.’

Craig Bryson was also given his third start in midfield, making way for Scott Wright just after the hour, with McInnes insistent the former Derby County man will begin to show his real qualities after the international break.

‘We are almost in September without getting Bryson at full pelt,’ said McInnes. ‘He brings a different dynamic and his influence was there until he had to come off. We’ll get good work into him during the international break and he’ll feel his season is starting properly then.’

Aberdeen bossed this from the start, with Cosgrove having a shot cleared off the line by Keith Watson and McGinn blazing over.

The opener came from a free-kick awarded for a handball by Ross Stewart.

McGinn played the set-piece out to Hedges and Leigh met his inswinging cross to guide a header into the corner of the net.

Moments later, the game was over with County having failed to lay a glove on their hosts.

Goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw charged from his line to the left-hand side of the area and, inexplicably, brought Lewis Ferguson crashing.

It was an absolute stonewaller, with the only surprise being that referee Nick Walsh had to consult with his assistant Kylie Cockburn before pointing to the spot.

Cosgrove stepped up and buried a powerful shot past Laidlaw.

‘It was the kind of one that knocks your stuffing out for a little while,’ said County co-manager Steven Ferguson. ‘It is difficult and you feel you don’t get the break or the decision you need sometimes. We need to deal with that.’

County duly went three goals down in the 50th minute. McGinn fired a cross to the back post from the left and Hedges was waiting there to bundle the ball home.

Even when the visitors did get a chance, they couldn’t take it.

Walsh awarded a penalty after a shot from Stewart hit off the hand of Funso Ojo.

Billy Mckay was given the responsibility of maintaining faint hope for County — and crashed his effort off goalkeeper Joe Lewis’ left-hand post.

Stewart was next to be denied by the same upright with 20 minutes remaining when his clever, curling effort from the edge of the area cracked off the woodwork to safety.

‘Believe it or not, I think there were things better today than in our last game and we felt we held a decent shape for a while,’ said Ferguson, referring to last weekend’s disappointing 4-1 home loss to Livingston.

‘Aberdeen were under pressure. Everybody was jumping on the bandwagon about their start to the season and they dealt with the game very well.

‘We came unstuck through a couple of set-plays. We hit the post twice in the second half, but we just weren’t able to break Aberdeen down.’