Rare away day defeat for The Dons but Rooney scores again
Partick Thistle 3 | Balatoni (58′), Taylor (64′, 72′)
Aberdeen 1 | Rooney (67′)
SPFL Premiership | Firhill Stadium | Kick off 3pm | Att: 4554 | FT
It was a bad day at the office as Partick Thistle recorded their first home win of the season against a disappointing Dons side. Aberdeen should have opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Rooney was taken down by Gallacher. The keeper was booked for his trouble, but Robson had the effort saved and Rooney’s effort to convert the rebound was deflected wide. Aberdeen should have had a second spot kick seven minutes later when Rooney was once again taken out by Gallacher, but referee Muir ignored the appeals and Gallacher was lucky to still be on the park. The Dons went close again in the 36th minute when Shaughnessy found Rooney and his downward header was very well saved by Gallacher. The Dons finished the half powerfully and Shaughnessy looked to have been taken down inside the Thistle box, but as Aberdeen appealed the home side broke and created their best chance of the half, but the effort went wide.
It was a frantic start to the second half as first Shaughnessy failed to steer a header on target then Thistle were denied a penalty claim and a minute later Langfield made a terrific save to deny Higginbotham. The home side enjoyed a spell of pressure and took the lead in the 58th minute when Aberdeen failed to clear their lines and allowed Balatoni to drill the ball into the net. Aberdeen were then given a taste of their own medicine as Thistle added a second on the break as Taylor made it 2-0 after 64 minutes. Three minutes later Aberdeen pulled one back when Rooney converted a McGinn free kick.
Just as the Dons were looking to get level Thistle added a third as Taylor grabbed his second when he rounded Anderson and fired a great shot beyond Langfield. Not long after Zola replaced Robson Langfield had to make another great save to deny Taylor a hat trick as the Aberdeen defence were all over the place. Another defensive error handed Taylor a second chance of a hat trick, but he somehow found the side netting instead of the back of the net. The Dons failed to get back into the match and Partick Thistle ran out deserved winners following their fine second half performance. Aberdeen need to dust themselves down and get ready for the visit of Celtic in midweek.
Aberdeen team : Langfield, Considine (Low 85′), Shaughnessy, Flood, Anderson, Reynolds, Pawlett, Robson (Zola 74′), Rooney, McGinn, Hayes.
Substitutes not used: Weaver, Vernon, Tate, Smith, McManus.
RedWeb match report | please click here
Quotes from the press room | please click here
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The manager’s post match press conference | please click here
Willo Flood post match | please click here
Jonny Hayes media conference | please click here
Jonny Hayes media conference | please click here
