Aberdeen vs Ross County. Scottish Premiership.
PittodrieAttendance15,116.
Match report as Bojan Miovski scores twice for Aberdeen in convincing win; Dons earn confidence-boosting victory ahead of facing the same opposition in the Viaplay Cup in midweek
Sunday 24 September 2023 20:20, UK
Aberdeen finally kicked into life in the cinch Premiership as they brushed aside Ross County 4-0 to claim their first league win of the season.
Bojan Miovski scored twice with Luis 'Duk' Lopes and Jamie McGrath also on the scoresheet as the Dons bounced back from four successive defeats in all competitions.
The Dons showed three changes from their impressive but ultimately losing Europa Conference League performance against Eintracht Frankfurt, but one of the players stepping in, James McGarry, was forced off through injury after just six minutes.
His replacement, Jonny Hayes, required treatment himself after a late challenge from County's James Brown, but was eventually able to continue. For his part, Brown was perhaps lucky to be shown only a yellow card.
Once the game had settled down, Aberdeen found themselves in front.
Connor Barron's corner from the right was turned towards goal by Richard Jensen's bicycle kick, and Miovski was on hand to apply the finishing touch from close range.
The visitors responded strongly with Kelle Roos turning a Brown drive round the post, before Jordan White's header from a Yan Dhanda corner clipped the post.
But the Dons should have extended their lead twice in the space of a minute as Duk's strong run down the right got them into the area but neither Miovski nor McGrath could get a shot away.
However, they did double their lead in the 42nd minute in a move that was started and finished by Duk.
He played out from the back after a corner, and while Hayes and Graeme Shinnie carried the ball almost the length of the pitch, it was Duk who raced into the area to apply the, somewhat scrappy, finishing touch.
The Dons picked up where they had left off in the second half and made it 3-0 in the 48th minute, as another move started in their own half saw Hayes switch the ball cross-field to Miovski, who unselfishly squared for McGrath to prod home his first Aberdeen goal.
And a fourth goal soon arrived, Miovski biding his time to drill across Ross Laidlaw after Duk showed strength and ingenuity to set up the chance, holding off his man before a back-heel pass to his strike partner.
A slew of substitutions would follow for both sides, which broke up the rhythm of the game, but allowed Aberdeen to rest some of those who had worked so hard in Germany in midweek. And while they allowed County more possession thereafter, the Dons were comfortable for the most part.
There was a moment of concern for the hosts with 10 minutes to go when Josh Sims flashed an angled drive over the crossbar, but the Dons held firm for a confidence-boosting victory ahead of facing the same opposition in the Viaplay Cup in midweek.
Aberdeen boss Barry Robson said: "I think we performed to a really high level. We looked really quick and aggressive at times, and scored goals at the right times.
"We've performed the way we want to perform and that was the pleasing thing today. We've played really well in a few games and with the European thing, I think we've learned how to deal with that.
"It's hard to fight on all fronts, and that's what we're doing at the moment. We've got to stay in touch in the league, and we're looking to stay in the Viaplay Cup, and compete in Europe.
"We won't get carried away - let's just get our heads down and go and perform."
Ross County head coach Malky Mackay said: "I thought we actually started the first 15 minutes reasonably well.
It seemed to be the injuries for Aberdeen that changed the momentum a wee bit.
"There's no real blame attached to the first goal, but the first 20 minutes of the second half we didn't do ourselves any justice and Aberdeen deserved everything they've got.
"It's about us going back in tomorrow morning - there's glaring mistakes for most of the goals. It's a Viaplay Cup quarter-final on Wednesday with the reward of going to Hampden. If there's any disappointment it'll be dealt with tonight. Tomorrow we'll debrief that, and then the focus switches to Wednesday."
Ross County and Aberdeen meet again on Wednesday night in the Viaplay Cup quarter-finals. Kick-off 7.45pm.
Aberdeen's next Scottish Premiership match is away to Rangers on September 30 while Ross County host Hearts on the same day.
Both games kick-off at 3pm.
