Dons look to Europe

Aberdeen put in a terrific second half performance at Pittodrie to secure a deserved three points. After an even first half the Dons dominated the game after the break creating chance after chance. The reward came in the 79th minute when Gary McDonald looped a Charlie Mulgrew free kick beyond Esson to secure all three points. The visitor’s never looked like getting back into the game and Aberdeen now travel to Celtic Park safe in the knowledge that they will be in the top six and fighting for a European spot.

Following a minutes silence in respect of those who lost their lives in the North Sea, Aberdeen kicked off in a sun soaked Pittodrie. There were few chances in the opening five minutes but Smith and Maguire combined well in the 6th minute before the youngster was closed down inside the Inverness box. Slack defending a minute later gave Proctor a sniff of goal, but the midfielder failed to get his shot away. Langfield was forced to make a save from Morais before Aluko was released at the other end and won a free kick wide on the left.

Mulgrew’s delivery was easily cleared by Proctor allowing Inverness to break allowing Foran to win the first corner of the game. The set play came to nothing and at this stage Aberdeen were wanting too long on the ball and Inverness were quick to close down. The Dons went close in the 17th minute as Esson made a terrific save from Lee Miller who had rose to head a Derek Young cross on target. A minute later a Mulgrew free kick was deflected inches over the bar for the Dons first corner. The resultant delivery saw Lee Mair head wide as the Dons suddenly burst into life. Young then had a great chance to open the scoring, but couldn’t finish before Miller went close from a corner.

In the 28th minute a dangerous Aluko cost just evaded Miller before Mulgrew made a spectacular clearance at the other end. Aberdeen were turning the heat up and Esson was forced to punch the ball clear in the 35th minute and a minute later McDonald made a great run at the Inverness defence, but a poor cross ended the move. A corner in the 40th minute came to nothing and Inverness broke forward where Langfield was forced to make a fine block from Morais. Ian Black was lucky to escape a caution in the 42nd minute after he brought Chris Maguire to the deck. From the subsequent free kick Lee Miller fired wide before McDonald also went wide with a low drilled shot.

The second half had a lively start as the game raged from end to end. In the 51st minute Inverness won an embarrassingly soft free kick. Fortunately the ball was fired in to the wall and although a corner followed seconds later Langfield easily gathered. A deep cross from Mulgrew caused Esson a lot of problems and as the ball fell to McDonald his effort was deflected wide for a corner. A second corner quickly followed and again Esson didn’t look comfortable and Maguire should have done better but fired wide from the edge of the box. Aluko tested Esson in the 58th minute but the keeper spilled the ball and Inverness were lucky to escape as two efforts were scrambled clear in the follow up.

Aberdeen were piling on the pressure now and Maguire won another corner on the hour mark as he looked to be felled inside the box. It was all Aberdeen and Jamie Smith showed some great skill in the 67th minute as he skinned a defender on the bye line and cut the ball back only for Severin to fire well wide. McDonald won a free kick in the 75th minute, which resulted in another corner. When the ball fell to the edge of the box Aluko tested Esson, but the keeper made a comfortable stop. Substitute Barrowman was lucky to escape a caution in the 78th minute for a cynical challenge on Aluko. However team mate Tokely was booked for talking out of turn. From the subsequent free kick Aberdeen grabbed a deserved lead. Mulgrew swung in a great delivery from about 40 yards and Gary McDonald looped a header beyond the despairing Esson.

Mair went close to adding a second before the Dons had a worrying moment when Imrie stormed forward causing an almighty stramash inside the Dons box. With five minutes remaining Mackie and Wright replaced Miller and Maguire and in the final minute Duff replaced Smith. In injury time Mackie and Aluko combined well but the final cross was cleared. Inconsistent decisions from the officials were causing frustrations among the red army on the terraces, but the Dons comfortably held on to secure the win.