DEREK McInnes continued to sidestep the inevitable questions about the possibility of him going to Rangers with the sort of style and panache which made Peter Weir such a hero at Aberdeen some years back.
To suggest this win over Ross County didn’t matter would be ridiculous. After all, his side closed the gap on Celtic at the top of the Premiership to just one point. However, the manager’s future is the talk of Pittodrie and beyond.
Something will happen, one way or another, over the next few days. Will Rangers make a move for McInnes? Do they have the funds to buy him and his backroom staff? Would McInnes take the job given the difficulties which exist at his old place of work?
Such questions will be answered shortly, but not yesterday.
Asked whether the constant chat about his future was getting to the players, the Aberdeen manager said: “I don’t think it’s hard for players when there’s other talk in the background.
“Having been a player myself, it was always about your own professional pride. I think you can see clearly the focus of the players and staff, everyone. We’re well used to speculation here, whether it’s about our players or whether it’s about myself. We have dealt with that in the past and we’ll continue to deal with that.”
Aberdeen were humbled by Celtic in midweek. They reacted positively by playing well against a Ross County side who had their moments and took an early lead.
Only eight minutes had gone when Michael Gardyne’s shot from 25 yards, which swerved along the ground, deceived Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis.
The visitors’ lead wasn’t to last long. Just a few minutes later, a move which involved Shay Logan, Kenny McLean and Ryan Christie, ended with the latter producing a wonderful left-foot finish into the top corner.
McLean and Graeme Shinnie both went close before a huge chance for County after 19 minutes. A cross into the home side’s box was about to be hoofed clear by Scott McKenna, only for the defender to slip and present Craig Curran with the chance to shoot six yards from goal.
However, the County front man was denied by brave goalkeeping. Lewis was at it again after 27 minutes when he dealt well with another effort from Gardyne, who did well to be on target with a shot on the turn.
The half continued at a jaunty pace. McLean’s long-range drive after 34 minutes brought the best out of County goalkeeper Aaron McCarey, then some lovely play on the wing by the twisting Scott Wright ended with the youngster playing a fine ball towards the back post for Christie who thought he had scored a second, only for his volley to go wide.
Aberdeen were better after the break. Six minutes in, a lovely Greg Stewart pass found Shinnie, who had made a run into the County area. He was clumsily halted by Jason Naismith, a penalty was rightly awarded and McLean did the business from 12 yards.
Christie was mighty unlucky when his wonderful strike from distance rattled McCarey’s bar.
Aberdeen would have scored more but too often tried to walk the ball in the goal.
“It’s just about getting back on track and getting another winning run,” McInnes said. “In my time here the players have always had a real motivation after losing to go and start another winning run. It’s not about keeping in touch with Celtic; it’s about being happy with our own work. The whole team deserve a lot of credit because after the other night it was a really sobering experience, losing as we did.”
County manager Owen Coyle didn’t make the post-match press conference. His assistant, Sandy Stewart said: “We couldn’t have asked more of the players. They are giving us everything we are asking of them. I’ve left a dressing-room full of disappointed players. We were content at half-time at 1-1 but it was a definite penalty.”
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