Aberdeen 2-1 Ross County: Dons boost Premiership survival hopes with win over lowly Staggies
Match report and free highlights as Aberdeen beat Ross County to move six points clear of the relegation play-off place; Bojan Miovski opened the scoring before Simon Murray equalised before half-time; Jamie McGrath scored the winner for the Dons
Monday 1 April 2024 00:19, UK
Aberdeen made it back-to-back Premiership victories with a win over Ross County to move six points clear of their visitors, who remain in the relegation play-off place.
Bojan Miovski and Jamie McGrath struck at either end of the match to give their side the points, although the defending that lead to Simon Murray's 17th goal of the season exposed their soft underbelly.
The home side were quick out of the traps, with Miovski testing George Wickens just two minutes in, only for a debatable offside flag to render the goalkeeper's save moot.
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But the visitors did not heed the warning and were behind after five minutes.
This time it was Junior Hoilett who slid the pass down the side of the County defence and, although Miovski seemed to have been forced wide, his prodded effort trundled through a ruck of players and across the line, despite the despairing late lunge of Loick Ayina.
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Perhaps the goal gave Don Cowie's men a wake-up call as they began to edge back into the game.
Josh Reid was denied a leveller when Murray played him in, only for the wing-back to be foiled by Kelle Roos' low save.
But Murray brought his side level, first winning a corner off Stefan Gartenmann before heading home unchallenged at the back post from Yan Dhanda's whipped delivery.
Aberdeen's bright start was now a distant memory and, while Michee Efete was called offside when he blasted over from close range, it was another warning for the home side.
There were signs of life for the Dons early in the second half, but the Staggies could have been in front in the 65th minute as Dhanda's powerful drive forced Roos to push over.
The introduction of Duk brought some fresh impetus to the hosts' attack and he charged on to a long ball that drew Wickens out of his area.
The latter took out the former and the 'keeper was perhaps lucky to escape with a yellow card after a VAR check.
Leighton Clarkson whipped the resulting free-kick inches wide of an upright.
Duk was involved again when his side took the lead after 78 minutes. His quick spin in the area took out his man and he laid the ball on a plate for McGrath to turn home from six yards.
It could have been three for Aberdeen when Dante Polvara's vicious half-volley cannoned back off the bar late on and, although they survived a late VAR check for Gartnemann's challenge on Murray, it was ultimately job done for the Pittodrie men.
What the managers said
Aberdeen caretaker boss Peter Leven: "I'm delighted with the three points and the result, but the performance could have been better.
"I thought we started well and then County came into it a bit. I always knew we had the players who could get us the next goal.
"At half-time I told them to relax on the ball. They looked nervous at times and they were trying the hard pass when the simple pass was on. They were better in the second half and I thought the subs really impacted the game.
"When Duk is like that, he's a handful for anybody with his power and pace. He did really well for the second goal.
"The character the boys showed was brilliant. They were fighting for everything and the boys were focused."
Ross County interim manager Don Cowie: "I thought it was a really good performance and the team responded really well to a poor start.
"The team were perhaps a little bit spooked for 10 minutes, but the response was excellent and we deserved to go in level.
"I felt that we could step on and win it after that, but if you can't win it you have to make sure you don't lose it and we have to learn from that.
"Every game you play is an opportunity and we've come away with nothing, so there's a natural disappointment there, but I'm so proud of the team and the way we've played.
"It's a team that's working hard for each other and there's real quality in there as well, but we have to build on that.
"We've shown over the last seven or eight games that we can be dangerous, but we need to start picking up points away from home and it's about those fine lines."
What's next?
Aberdeen head to bottom-side Livingston next Saturday, while Ross County are at Kilmarnock.
Both games kick-off at 3pm.
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