The meteoric rise of Scott McKenna continued here as the Aberdeen defender transformed his side’s afternoon. A goal down at half-time to Kilmarnock, the 21-year-old met Niall McGinn’s corner to send a header crashing off the bar which Adam Rooney bundled into the net to level the scores before the youngster scored a contender for goal of the season.
He collected the ball from McGinn at the edge of the centre circle inside the visitors’ half before taking a touch forward and unleashing a left-footed effort beyond Jamie MacDonald. It was a ferocious strike and dipped perfectly beyond the goalkeeper. A McGinn goal 18 minutes from time eased the pressure on Aberdeen in the final furlongs. The win conceived an air of positivity around the club, who will find out tomorrow if they have been successful in their application to build a new stadium to the west of the city, after the midweek defeat to Rangers.
Hull City have had three bids rejected for McKenna in the January transfer window, with their latest offer of £700,000 failing to test the Pittodrie resolve. Any supplement offers from now on may have to break the £1 million mark. Not only is he a talented defender, but he is seemingly capable of launching rockets into the top corner from distance. His manager, Derek McInnes, said yesterday that he told Hull on Friday night that the player would not be sold in the current transfer window.
“We spoke again to Hull last night [Friday] just to reinforce things, so the message was loud and clear that we don’t want any other offers [for McKenna],” said McInnes. “There’s no point in anyone offering anything in January.”
McKenna spent last season on loan at Ayr, but the player does not seem to be fazed at the rate at which his career his progressing. “He’s really refreshing,” added McInnes. “He’s not a bawheid like a lot of young boys who get carried away, he’s just a level-headed boy who loves his football. McKenna’s been one since he came on full time that he helps clean the boots, helps the kitman, sits and has a cup of tea — just an old-school centre half who plays the game the way we all want to see defenders play.”
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The hosts had a few early early chances with Shay Logan having a shot palmed wide by MacDonald and Gary Mackay-Steven forcing a block from Scott Boyd. McGinn’s delivery was a constant nuisance and he looks to be finding fitness, having only played eight games for Gwangju FC during his failed stint in South Korea.
Kris Boyd then headed over a Jordan Jones cross at the other end and Kilmarnock were building pressure. They took the lead in innocuous circumstances.
Jordan Jones cut the ball back to Greg Taylor and his strike from the corner of the box bounced off the Boyd’s rear end and into the back of the net. Danny Rogers, the Aberdeen goalkeeper who was making his first start for the club in the absence of Joe Lewis, could do little about it. Aberdeen were floundering as the break approached but came bounding out of the traps after half-time. McGinn’s corner after 49 minutes was powerful and McKenna timed his run perfectly to meet it and send it bouncing off the bar, with the help of a deflection off Lee Erwin. He pulled away, claiming that it had crossed the line, but the lethal Rooney was on hand to ensure the ball hit the back of the net.
Before Kilmarnock could find their feet again they were behind. McKenna didn’t need a second invitation when the crowd bellowed for him to “shoot!” and the ball was still gathering pace as it flew past MacDonald.
The third came from McGinn. When Gary Dicker stalled 30 yards from the Aberdeen goal, McGinn pinched the ball and drove into the opposition half, which was largely empty as they over-committed at a corner. With Mackay-Steven and Kenny McLean making runs to distract defenders, McGinn launched a shot over MacDonald from 20 yards.
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It was a goal worthy of winning any game, but it was McKenna’s day to grab the headlines.
Star man: Scott McKenna (Aberdeen)