Aberdeen cut gap to Celtic with win

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17 Jan 2016

By Martin Dowden BSports Scotland at Victoria Park

Shay Logan scored twice as 10-man Aberdeen came from behind to beat Ross County in a chaotic Dingwall battle.

Dons defender Mark Reynolds was sent off for felling goal-bound Alex Schalk on 26 minutes, with Ian McShane stroking in the resultant free-kick.

But Adam Rooney soon earned and scored a penalty, and Logan bundled in a cross before the break to put Aberdeen ahead.

The right-back dispatched his second after the break, but a McShane rocket made for tense last eight minutes.

Aberdeen move to within three points of Premiership leaders Celtic - who have played a game fewer - and six clear of third-place Hearts.

The visitors were immediately on the offensive, with Derek McInnes' side demonstrating great tempo and desire.

Jonny Hayes fired in a dipping effort that Scott Fox tipped over and the goalkeeper also parried a low Niall McGinn shot, before Rooney headed over a Logan cross.

The hosts spurned opportunities of their own, though.

Michael Gardyne released Richard Foster, but he fired too close to Scott Brown - playing in place of Danny Ward, who was recalled by Liverpool last week.

Schalk then claimed for a penalty after Ash Taylor seemed to catch him with his knee, but referee Crawford Allan allowed an advantage upon which County could not capitalise. Furious manager Jim McIntyre was spoken to by the official.

The action reached a crescendo when Schalk retrieved Brian Graham's hooked pass, cutting across Reynolds before being taken down on the edge of the box.

Reynolds was dismissed and the punishment was compounded when McShane drilled a low shot under the wall and past the static Brown.

It was a pulsating contest and, against the odds, Aberdeen struck back suddenly.

The ball deflected into Rooney's path in the area and Chris Robertson inexplicably hauled him down. County were furious again, but the striker slotted the penalty.

Aberdeen then seized the lead. Hayes whipped a ball across the six-yard box, Logan contested, and the ball seemed to striker Jamie Reckord before looping into the net.

Play raced from end to end, Graham and Taylor narrowly missing with headers, and Hayes failing to finish a mesmeric dancing run towards goal.

Graham saw another header tipped away before Brown recovered superbly to deny Schalk.

Rooney then struck across Fox, who saved and scurried back to stop the ball edging over the line.

All of this before half-time.

The second period was understandably more muted but Aberdeen deserve real credit for their performance as they kept County busy and at bay for most of the half.

The decisive goal came when Graeme Shinnie drilled in a cross, Rooney showed great awareness to flick on and Logan was there to finish.

The game seemed to be petering out until McShane evaded Hayes, drove towards goal and thundered a shot away from Brown to set up a fantastic finish. But Aberdeen held on for an impressive victory.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Ross County

01 Fox
03 Reckord
15 Davies
06 Robertson Booked
02 Fraser (De Vita - 45' )
12 Foster
08 McShane
18 Murdoch (Irvine - 45' )
07 Gardyne
09 Graham
23 Schalk (Morrison - 71' )

Substitutes

05 Boyd
17 Franks
19 Dingwall
21 Woods
24 De Vita
36 Irvine
53 Morrison

Aberdeen

20 Brown
03 Shinnie
06 Reynolds Dismissed
05 Taylor
02 Logan
11 Hayes
07 McLean Booked
23 Storie
10 McGinn (Pawlett - 87' )
17 Goodwillie (Considine - 28' )
09 Rooney (Robson - 87' )

Substitutes

04 Considine
14 Smith
15 Robson
16 Pawlett
18 Quinn
19 Collin
31 Ross

Ref: Crawford Allan

Att: 4,107

Match Stats

Possession 47 53

Shots

13 12

On target

8 6

Corners

8 10

Fouls

7 12

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Ross County 2, Aberdeen 3.

90:00 +3:39 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Ross County 2, Aberdeen 3.

90:00 +3:12

Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Barry Robson.

90:00 +2:11

Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Shaleum Logan.

90:00 +0:28

Foul by Raffaele De Vita (Ross County).

90:00 +0:28

Craig Storie (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

88:57

Attempt saved. Michael Gardyne (Ross County) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

88:08

Attempt saved. Jackson Irvine (Ross County) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

86:38 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Aberdeen. Peter Pawlett replaces Niall McGinn.

86:01 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Aberdeen. Barry Robson replaces Adam Rooney.

84:46

Attempt missed. Brian Graham (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.

84:00

Jackson Irvine (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

83:56

Foul by Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen).

81:32 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Ross County 2, Aberdeen 3. Ian McShane (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Raffaele De Vita.

78:17

Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Richard Foster.

76:33

Attempt missed. Greg Morrison (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.

74:50

Attempt missed. Andrew Davies (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.

74:20

Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Andrew Considine.

73:36 Booking

Booking Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

73:31

Michael Gardyne (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

73:31

Foul by Kenny McLean (Aberdeen).

70:13 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Ross County. Greg Morrison replaces Alex Schalk.

67:16

Attempt missed. Jackson Irvine (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

59:36 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Ross County 1, Aberdeen 3. Shaleum Logan (Aberdeen) right footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Adam Rooney.