DEREK McINNES only ever does one game at a time. He reiterated that yesterday when questioned about the magnitude of Aberdeen’s upcoming encounter with title rivals Celtic in three weeks.
“It’s just all about the next game against Partick Thistle,” McInnes said. But with this victory yesterday came the equalling of the Dons’ best league start in 24 years.
Three points against Partick Thistle would better that again by another seven years to season 1984/85, the last season in which Aberdeen picked up a league title.
And if the Dons play like they did yesterday against Dundee, there shouldn’t be any problems with that.
McInnes partnered Adam Rooney and David Goodwillie up front for Aberdeen. In the first half it wasn’t entirely convincing, but after the break the partnership looked a far more promising proposition.
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The first half had been a scrap for Aberdeen, with chances few and far between. Rooney went close with a header from a dipping Jonny Hayes cross, managing to direct it goalwards, but slightly misjudging the distance as the looping effort clipped the bar and went over.
A sliced cross from Niall McGinn had Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain scrambling to tip over before the unmarked Ash Taylor also put a header into the Merkland stand.
Taylor was in action at the other end of the pitch as the half-time break approached, but was more composed to time a sliding challenge on the bombarding Greg Stewart.
Stewart was again looking a thorn in the Aberdeen side after the break, showcasing a panache otherwise unseen in the match to chip in Kane Hemmings, Danny Ward flashing out to stop the opportunity.
“The first-half performance was excellent,” McInnes said. “I thought they started the second half the better team but outwith that 15-minute period we were the dominant team.
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“Once we got the first goal, it was all about getting the next one on the counterattack and I thought the second goal was a fair reflection overall.
“I got asked about the Celtic game two games ago, and it’s all just about the next game against Partick. We’ve had to fight and scrap to win this today.”
The first goal came about following sheer persistence to break down the visitors’ backline. Jonny Hayes darted to the byline and pulled back a cross onto the head of an unmarked Rooney, who finished with ease.
Graeme Shinnie came close to adding a second when his piercing run from left-back to the opposition box was picked out by Hayes who had been assisted himself by Dons debutant Josh Parker, signed this week on loan from Red Star Belgrade.
However it was again the trustworthy Rooney who sealed the points. Last season’s Scottish Premiership top scorer was chopped down by Gary Harkins, who was sent off, and from the penalty he sent Bain the wrong way.
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Dundee manager Paul Hartley felt his side deserved something from the encounter, and was left aggrieved at losing yet another squad member, this time through suspension.
He said: “Gary’s saying he didn’t really touch him, I don’t know until I see the footage of it. We’re minus a player now in the next league games, we’ve got a few injuries already and if you look at the bench we are beginning to look a bit threadbare.
“There are loads of positives for us to take, we know we were playing a really good team today and how we play, Aberdeen know they are always in a game with us.”
Star man: Adam Rooney (Aberdeen)
Aberdeen: Ward 7, Logan 6, Shinnie 6, Considine 6, Taylor 7, McLean 6, Rooney 8, McGinn 7, Hayes 6 (Quinn 87min), Goodwillie 6 (Parker 77min), Jack 7
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Dundee: Bain 5, Holt 7, Konrad 5 (Carreiro 83min), McPake 6, Stewart 6, Hemmings 6, Etxabeguren 5, Ross 5, McGowan 6, McGinn 6, Harkins 5