Aberdeen 3 - 0 Ross County

Aberdeen this afternoon ran out comfortable winners against Ross County at Pittodrie. Brilliant first-half headers from Adam Rooney and then David Goodwillie gave the Dons a 2-0 lead at half time and then after the break a deflected second-half strike from Peter Pawlett gave the Dons a 3-0 victory over the SPFL Premiership's bottom side. The Dons should have won by more as some of their play in the final third was excellent today.

Match Report

Manager Derek McInnes put out a very attacking line up. Langfield was in goal, Logan was at right back with Ashton Taylor and Mark Reynolds in the centre and Jonny Hayes at left back. The midfield four were Pawlett, Flood, Jack and McGinn with Rooney and Goodwillie upfront. With Niall also getting forward whenever he could it was a front three at times.

A crowd of almost 11,000 saw the Dons dominate the opening exchanges in the sunshine. Aberdeen had the ball in the net as early as the third minute after McGinn knocked in Pawlett's cross from the left but the flag went up for offside. Then three minutes later, a great slick move saw Goodwillie find McGinn and his low cross found Rooney coming in at the back post but his effort was just deflected behind for a corner. It looked like the shot had actually beaten Brown but Darren Barr did incredibly well to stretch out a leg and put the ball behind.

It was all Aberdeen at this stage and on 12 minutes the ball was laid back to Ryan Jack who hit a powerful shot which Brown could not deal with. He parried it back across his body and with Rooney the first player to react it looked like he would score but the ball bounced and spun away from the striker and in the end he could not make a decent connection. A minute later another change for Rooney after he was found by Pawlett but Brown saved. The County keeper went on to have a very good game and kept his side in it for a while.

Despite the Dons dominance Ross County very nearly opened the scoring when Rocco Quinn's run was not picked up. On 16 minutes. Michael Gardyne's pass down the right found Quinn but with just Langfield to beat he miscontrolled the ball and ran it out of play.

Aberdeen then took a deserved lead after 20 minutes. From a Niall McGinn corner, Adam Rooney made a good late run across the defenders and powered a header past everyone on the line. A really good header.

Three minutes later, after some more very good football, McGinn played it to Goodwillie but Brown saved. However two minutes later, and only five minutes after the first goal, the Dons doubled their lead. Similar to the first goal, it was from a set-piece. This time it was from a free-kick about 30 yards out after a foul on McGinn. Niall took it and floated the ball over. David Goodwillie was completed unmarked and glanced the ball on into the corner of the net. Unlike Adam's header which was more about power, David's effort was more about placement but just as good a finish.

The delivery from Niall for both goals was excellent.

Aberdeen really were running riot at this stage and County had no answers. On 35 minutes fantastic play from Jonny Hayes who made a long run from the left back area. He then unleashed a shot which Brown was equal to.

On 40 minutes a good cross from the County right saw Willo Flood do very well to head clear. He had read the danger and was in just the right place to prevent a goal. Minutes later Willo and Ryan had a bit of a disagreement on the half way line. The two of them had a few words with each other before both were booked by Craig Thomson.

Just on the stroke of half time Jack did well down the left and beat and few players before putting over a good low cross. Adam Rooney had broken his stride when sprinting forward and in the end was just a metre or so away from getting on the end of it.

HT

A few minutes into the second half it was game over. It was great play once again from the Dons. Willo Flood made a good run down the right and he was picked out by Niall McGinn. Willo's early cross caught the County defence all out of position. Both Goodwillie and Rooney appeared to step over the ball which allowed Pawlett time and space after he arrived late into box. Peter drilled a low shot into the net although it did look like the ball took a deflection.

At this point you felt the Dons would go on and score a few more.

On 56 minutes the referee played a good advantage when Goodwillie was completely taken out by Boyd. Rooney picked it up and drove into the box but Brown made another save. A minute later the first change of the afternoon, Jeffrey Monakana replaced the injury Niall McGinn who limped off. Niall must now be a doubt for the game on Tuesday. On 62 minutes hesitancy from Scott Boyd allowed Pawlett the chance to run in on goal but his shot was brilliantly turned away by Brown. At the other end Jamie Langfield did not have a lot to do but on
68 minutes the Dons keeper made a very smart stop to deny Quinn.

A minute later the Dons really should have been four up! Jeffery Monakana played a great forward pass to put Goodwillie who had broken free of the defence and stayed onside. David rounded the keeper and rolled the ball towards the empty net but as he went away to celebrate the ball hit the post! He should have scored, but the miss should not take anything from what as another very good performance from the striker. He seems to be getting sharper and sharper very week.

Two minutes later, Goodwillie then slipped a neat ball into the path of Peter Pawlett who saw his shot hit the side netting. Pawlett then made a similar run and appeared to be taken down by Brittain but Craig Thomson said no pen.

Shortly after that a second chance, Pawlett was replaced by Cammy Smith who has been in very good form for the U20s. On 83 minutes the final change; Barry Robson came on for Rooney. The game in the last ten minutes or so petered out, not surprising the Aberdeen players looked to conserve some energy with three more home games to follow in the space of nine days. They had done more than enough work to win this one a long time before the final whistle.