Late Ryan Hedges Goal Seals Points For Dons

Aberdeen secured their first win of the season thanks to a late goal from sub, Ryan Hedges against St Johnstone.

It was a make-shift Dons side that travelled to McDiarmid Park, after the stop-start opening to our season, we finally got the season back on track 19 days after our opener against Rangers.

Whilst it wasn’t pretty to watch, the size of the task could be seen.  Derek McInnes was missing all recognised strikers and three centre-backs for the match.

New signings Ross McCrorie and Tommie Hoban also made starts with Lewis Ferguson playing through the middle of a three pronged attack with Niall McGinn and Scott Wright either side.

It was Aberdeen that had the early chance, with a Niall McGinn shot at goal, but Elliot Parish managed to save it.

St Johnstone’s Danny McNamara ran at goal and fired a 22 yarder but Joe Lewis tipped the shot over goal.

As the game progressed, Aberdeen changed to a back five with Ronald Hernandez and Jonny Hayes dropping back.

There wasn’t much to talk about for the remainder of the half, we lacked focus and a lot of stray shots.

In the 38th minute, Aberdeen nearly scores when Hayes fired the ball across to Ojo, and his acrobatic volley went inches over the bar.

Derek McInnes chose to make a double sub at half time, with Matty Kennedy and Connor McLennan coming on for Dean Campbell and Ronald Hernandez, changing the formation to a 4-3-3.

Liam Craig fired in a left footed shot from outside the box in the 63rd minutes, but it went high and wide.

But sub Ryan Hedges was on target in the 82nd minute after he raced toward goal, cut inside and fired a low shot that took a deflection to send it into goal.

It was a hard graft and hard watch, but we travel back up the A90 with the points and move to 8th in table.

Full Time | Our first three points of the season! #StandFree pic.twitter.com/vl2A4y9OTJ

— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) August 20, 2020