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Derek McInnes defused row between Aberdeen players during win over Ross County

Image: Derek McInnes: Delighted with convincing win

Derek McInnes has revealed how he acted as peacemaker during half-time of Aberdeen’s 3-0 win over Ross County.

Goals from Adam Rooney, David Goodwillie and Peter Pawlett sealed a comfortable win, but there were ugly scenes in the first half when Dons team-mates Ryan Jack and Willo Flood were involved in a bust-up.

Manager McInnes believes the referee was right to caution both players and had words with them in the dressing room.

He said: "It's not nice to see. I don't want to just dismiss it. The referee handled it well, he was quite right to caution both of them.

"We all want to win, we want the players to be demanding of each other and speaking to each other in the right way.

"They were kissing and cuddling at half-time because I forced them together, but it boiled over and they know that's not the way to act.

"I don't know what sparked it, and it doesn't matter."

Despite this flash point, McInnes was delighted with his team's commanding performance at Pittodrie.

"When we were good, we were very good,” he said.

"There was a real energy, lots of pace in the team. We were getting into good areas, giving the strikers good support and we should have been two or three up before we did score.

"Although we didn't have the same intensity in the second half, we still had plenty of chances to score and we could have had a few more."

County are still searching for their first point of the season, but recently appointed manager Jim McIntyre is confident he can haul the side away from the foot of the table.

"When you come to places like Pittodrie, you need to start the game well,” he said. “We've not picked up a point yet, and we've lost two goals from set plays with free headers.

"It gives you a mountain to climb and dents the confidence straight away. You need to start well and grow into the game, but we didn't give ourselves the chance to do that.

"Let's not be kidded, Aberdeen were comfortable and deserved to win the game. We will improve, but gifting those goals gives Aberdeen a big lift and gets the crowd behind them. It let them play with a freedom."

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