Ross County vs Aberdeen. Scottish Premiership.
Victoria Park, DingwallAttendance4,107.
Sunday 17 January 2016 22:32, UK
Aberdeen recovered from a goal down and a man down to defeat Ross County 3-2 in a scintillating match in Dingwall to keep up the pressure on leaders Celtic.
Dons defender Mark Reynolds was sent off for a foul on last man Alex Schalk and the visitors were punished from the resulting free-kick as Ian McShane's low shot found the net.
Aberdeen battled back, though, and were 2-1 up by half-time, as a scrambled effort from Shay Logan and an Adam Rooney penalty saw them edge ahead.
Logan then scored his second of the game on the hour mark as the visitors extended their lead before McShane made matters interesting when he drilled in a 20-yarder eight minutes from time.
But the Dons held firm to hold on for a win that leaves them three points behind the Hoops, having played a game more.
Aberdeen began the Scottish Premiership game at a high tempo, with County struggling to keep the ball away from their own penalty area.
Jonny Hayes saw a swerving shot tipped over the crossbar by home goalkeeper Scott Fox and Rooney had a shot well blocked by Marcus Fraser.
Ross finally began to show but Richard Foster's shot was pushed over by Scott Brown in the Aberdeen goal.
The Dons could have been punished when Ash Taylor appeared to foul McShane just inside the area, but their luck was not to last as McShane cleverly drilled a low free-kick under the defensive wall as it jumped en masse after Reynolds had been red carded for holding back Schalk after 27 minutes.
Aberdeen were level six minutes later, however, Rooney firing his spot-kick straight down the middle after Chris Robertson had hauled the striker down in the area.
Logan then scored the first of his two goals on 35 minutes when he bundled home a Hayes cross at the back post under pressure from two defenders before Hayes blasted over when one-on-one with Fox in the next attack.
A fine double save from Brown at the other end proved Ross had not given up on the game but they fell further behind when Logan converted his second goal of the game as he slid in to convert after Rooney had deftly flicked on Craig Storie's cross (60).
County substitute Greg Morrison saw a low shot go agonisingly wide of the far post but McShane ensured an intriguing contest took another twist when he picked the ball up, ran infield and lashed in a 20-yard shot.
Dons manager Derek McInnes sacrificed Rooney for midfielder Barry Robson in the closing stages as he looked to close out the game and they duly held on to secure the three points.
