Aberdeen 4 - 0 Ross County

Match Summary

Aberdeen went joint top of the SPFL Premiership this afternoon with a comfortable win over Ross County at Pittodrie. Goals from Adam Rooney, Peter Pawlett, Shay Logan and David Goodwillie fired the Dons back level on points with Celtic.

With Kenny McLean included in the starting line up the Dons started very strong and on 12 minutes a mistake from Ross County keeper Antonio Reguero gifted the Dons an opener after he failed to deal with a Jonny Hayes low cross and Adam Rooney pounced to score his 21st goal of the season. To be fair to the visitors they battled hard throughout and it needed half time substitute Peter Pawlett to come on and grab the vital second goal on 50 minutes. Rooney and Hayes linked up before an excellent Rooney through ball found Pawlett and Peter produced a very good finish from a tight angle.

After that the Dons relaxed and played some very good football and Logan grabbed a superb third on 62 minutes when he cut inside and hit a left footed curler into the top corner. Another substitute, David Goodwillie slipped in the fourth late on after a very good ball through from Hayes.

All three substitutes played their part today - Joe Shaughnessy had a very good game in central defence after coming on in the first half for the injured Donervorn Daniels - and with Flood, Robson, Langfield and Shankland on the bench it highlights just how strong the squad is at the moment. New signing Kenny McLean also impressed on hid Dons debut- some of his movement was very impressive.

Match Report

Derek McInnes made two changes to the side that lost at Hampden last week. Peter Pawlett and David Goodwillie dropped to the bench with Cammy Smith and new signing Kenny McLean coming in. In a 4-2-3-1 formation, Brown was in goal, the back four were Logan, Daniels, Reynolds and Considine. Jack and Hayes were the sitting midfielders with McGinn, McLean and Smith ahead of them. Rooney was the man up front.

The Dons new boy McLean had an instant impact when on 2 minutes he set up Rooney inside the area. The Dons striker had time to pick his spot but his effort missed the target. It was a very good chance so early on. Aberdeen were well on top in the opening stages and on 10 minutes some good intelligent play set up Logan. His cross was cut out and then fell back to McLean, who was popping up on the right and left. His cross was caught by keeper Reguero.

A few minutes the keeper's handling was a lot less than impressive. Hayes put a hopeful ball into the box which the keeper fumbled. He might have got away with it but a very grateful Adam Rooney, being the good striker he is, was following up and he was able to tap the ball into the net. It really was a howler by Reguero.

On 13 minutes referee Thomson also had a bit of a nightmare.

Reckord fouled Hayes in the centre circle. It was a clear foul but Jack was in a great position when the ref whistled to halt the game. Jamie Reckford was booked for his tackle but the Aberdeen players were furious advantage was not played. Thomson's next involvement was to award County a free kick right on the edge of the area. Filip Kiss blasted the ball into the wall.

On 23 minutes Rooney did well to hold the ball up in the box despite being surrounded by four players. The ball was laid off to Considine whose cross picked out the late run of Reynolds but his header was too close to Reguero.

On 25 minutes a Hayes free kick, it was a good ball in, caused problems and came to Cammy Smith but his shot was scuffed wide.

Adam Rooney was really in the mood this afternoon. His movement was good and was a physical presence as well but he was starting to see less of the ball as the game became a real battle in the middle of the park. County to their credit were well organised, defending well and fighting hard for every ball.

Just after the half hour mark a blow for the Dons. Donervorn Daniels, who took a knock earlier, was unable to shake it off and had to be withdrawn. He was replaced by Joe Shaughnessy was slotted into his favoured central defence position.

On 38 minutes neat play by Smith and McLean on the right almost created an opening and then more good battling from the visitors forced the first corner of the game which Brown punched clear.

Craig Thomson was again the centre of attention at the end of the first half. Shay Logan was clearly brought down in the box but the referee waved play on. The far side linesman might have been in a better position to see the incident but he did not flag.

HT

During the half time interval Cammy Smith was replaced by Peter Pawlett as the manager decided to change the shape of his side.

Aberdeen forced their first corner of the game a couple of minutes into the second half. Hayes ball was whipped in well but Rooney headed it behind, well the referee thought he did. A few minutes later Logan whipped in a good ball from the right but his cross was just a bit too long.

Just when you thought it was going to be another of those nervy Pittodrie afternoons, Aberdeen got the all important second. A what a good goal it was.

On 50 minutes a slick move down the left saw Rooney slip the ball through to Pawlett who made a clever run in behind the defence. Peter took a good first touch to round the keeper and hit a quick shot from a very tight angle into the empty net. It was a very good finish as there was a defender trying to get back and he did not have a lot of the goal to aim at as the angle was tight. Great feet from Peter.

The second goal relaxed everyone and the Dons were now in control. It was just a case of how many they were going to score. On 54 minutes a cross from Hayes down the left was flicked on by Rooney under pressure but it just went over the bar.

On 61 minutes it was three. Jonny Hayes knocked the ball wide to Logan. The defender thought about crossing it but instead stepped inside and curled a great effort into the top left hand corner of the net with his left foot. A really good finish from Shay but the keeper maybe should have done better.

With 20 minutes to go all six subs were on the field when Goodwillie replaced McGinn. Graham Carey was struggling with an injury and eventually had to walk off the park so the Highlanders were down to ten men.
Credit to County who kept going all afternoon. They look a far more organised side than the one that turned up at Pittodrie earlier in the season but they never really carried a goal threat. Saying that with 15 to go Curren set up Liam Boyce. It looked an easy chance but the ball got caught up in his feet and he could not get his shot away. Boyce had a good game up front and held the ball up well but he lacked support.

Aberdeen had chances to add a fourth. They put some very good moves together as the ten men lost their shape. Jonny Hayes went close, the keeper just got to the ball ahead of Rooney, saving with his feet and then Reguero parried a fierce shot from Pawlett. The Dons however did make it four when Hayes threaded a fantastic little ball through to Goodwillie who slid it beyond Reguero into the back of the net. Four might have become five as there was one final chance when Jack forced Reguero into another save.