Aberdeen 2 Ross County 1

Aberdeen gained a vital three points against Ross County this afternoon courtesy of Jamie McGrath’s late winner. The Dons are now six points clear of the Dingwall side who occupy the relegation play-off spot.

Robert Jensen for Angus MacDonald was the only change to the line-up following the Motherwell win a fortnight previous. The Dons lined up: Roos, Devlin, Gartenmann, Jensen, MacKenzie, Barron, Shinnie, Clarkson, McGrath, Hoilett, Miovski.

The Dons got off to a superb start courtesy of Bojan Miovski and some slapstick defending from the visitors. In later reports the goal has been given as an own goal and it does look like it was an off-target shot. Still it did demonstrate one of Miovski’s greatest strengths, his ability to create pockets of space for himself to receive through passes.

After the goal and until half-time it was County who were the better side and they deservedly went level on 28 minutes. Yan Dhanda whipped in a outswinger from a short corner and Simon Murray nodded back across Kelle Ross. Jack Mackenzie appeared to be the culpable player from an Aberdeen perspective, allowing Murray to peel off at as the cross came in.

The second half saw a better performance from Aberdeen although at times it seemed the crowd was at odds with a more patient, albeit, stagnant approach to building out from the back. Peter Leven brought on Duk and Dante Polvara on 67 minutes and both made an impact on the last quarter of the match. The Cape Verdean would get his seventh assist of the season with some ‘2023 Duk’ play. Receiving a pass from Mackenzie, he rolled his marker inside the box and cut it back for McGrath to pass into the net with his left foot. The Irishman has now hit double figures for the season, and almost certainly the club’s best piece of recruitment of the summer transfer window.

It could have been more comfortable in the end. Polvara came inches away from a goal of the season contender when he cracked the crossbar with his half-volley from the edge of the box.