Aberdeen 2 - 1 Ross County

Three changes for the Dons with Stewart, Christie and Wright coming back into the starting XI.

The game kicked off in dry but extremely blustery conditions.

In the third minute Christie picked the ball up in the hole. He had space to run into but instead played a lovely first time ball for May. Stevie had time in the area to put over a cross but it was cut out by a Ross County defender and eventually cleared at the third attempt. With keeper Fox and captain Davies both missing, in was an inexperienced County backline and something Aberdeen were hoping to exploit.

On nine minutes Ross County took the lead completely against the run of play. A left footed shot from Michael Gardyne from thirty yards was on target and went under Lewis who never got his body behind the ball It was the first time the visitors had been in the Aberdeen half. Although the wind was making life difficult for both sets of players, it has to go down as a mistake by the Dons number one who probably should have just pushed the ball to safety instead of try to hold it.

On 11 minutes Aberdeen won the first corner of the game. Christie put a dangerous second ball over but it drifted out of play. A minute later the Dons equalised with a goal out of the top drawer. After good play from McLean, Christie picked the ball up and played a one two with Stevie May. He took a touch and then lashed a shot into the top corner of the net. An early contender for goal of the season. It was quite a hit from young Ryan.
A few minutes later he tried his lucky from 30 yards out but this time the connection was not as good.

It was a very open first 15 minutes.

On 17 minutes Kenny McLean produced a fine run and shot which was just off target. Two minutes later a Shinnie cross landed on the roof of the net. The wind was continuing to cause both keepers a lot of problems. On 20 minutes Lewis redeemed himself with a brilliant block. A neat pass found Craig Curran who was in acres of space after McKenna slipped but the keeper was out quickly to save.

A Shinnie cross went out of play which brought to an end a promising break before County won their first corner but again the wind took the ball out of play.

On 27 minutes a snap shot from Gardyne on the turn was well saved by Lewis. After the half hour mark a quick free kick was worked well and Shinnie had space on the left. The skipper put over a superb low ball which went across the six yard box. Christie was racing in but Sean Kelly produced a really good bit of defending to clear the danger. After 33 minutes McLean hit a great shot from 30 yards which reserve keeper McCarey had to push away.

The next passage of play was very stop start.

On 42 minutes the game came to life again. Scott Wright was one on one with the full back on the left. Scott had the defender in knots before a low cross which went all the way through to Christie and he poked the ball just past the past. It was a golden chance to take the lead on the stroke of half time. County also had a half chance when Naismith on the right crossed for Curran but Arnason was well positioned to clear. Kari had another very solid game this afternoon.

HT. Aberdeen 1 Ross County 1

Aberdeen started the second half strongly.

They won a corner which was delivered to the near post. Kenny McLean met it but from a very tight angle his header was always going over.

Aberdeen continued to press and on 50 minutes nice play by Greg Stewart found Shinnie's run into the area and when he was tripped by Lindsay it was a stonewall penalty. Kenny McLean stepped forward and although the keeper dived the right way he could get nowhere near the spot kick as Kenny had put it right in the corner.
Having taken the lead Aberdeen kept pressing. Logan won a corner and then a disguised pass from Christie found May but he could not react quick enough.

On 57 minutes the first change from Derek McInnes, the tiring May was replaced by Maynard.

Just before the half mark a good counter attack from Aberdeen. Wright play it wide to Shinnie but looping cross was easily taken by McCarey. On 61 minutes Christie almost scored another screamer. He hit a shot from 25 yards which had the keeper completely beaten but the ball rebounded off the bar.

Aberdeen were enjoying a good spell and were maybe a bit wasteful with a couple of breaks they had. Nicky Maynard was looking very sharp up front.

With 25 minutes to go Keillor-Dunn was replaced by Ryan Dow. A few minutes after coming on the sub got in behind Arnason but McKenna thankfully got there ahead of Lindsay. On 70 minutes Christie played it wide to Stewart and although he stepped inside the full back he could not work a shot. A minute later Stewart was replaced by Rooney and Wright replaced by Mackay-Steven.

After some solid defending Maynard produced a good break after tackling O'Brien. He played it wide to Rooney who as ever got a shot on target but McCarey at his near post has his angles correct.
With 15 to go McKenna was booked for a foul on Curran. The resulting free kick was very well defended by Arnason.

Aberdeen then wasted their best chance to make the game safe. GMS and Maynard combined on the left. Nicky got to the by-line and his cross found Rooney but he could not get enough on his left footed shot. Shay Logan, who has a remarkable scoring record against County, then had an opening but the right back's shot was half charged down.

Aberdeen had failed to kill the game off which led to a nervous last ten minutes.

On 81 minutes, heart in mouth stuff as the ball from a corner hung up in the wind and Lewis could not come for it. The ball fell for defender Kelly but he could not get a shot away after being crowded out. In the close stages Shinnie and Christie were booked as they battled to keep the visitors at bay. There were a few long balls into the area but during the three minutes of added time man of the match McLean was instrumental in keeping the ball in the corner flag which ran the clock down.

A deserved three points that takes Aberdeen back to within one point of Celtic.