Aberdeen 2 - 3 Inverness CT

League Match
Tuesday, November 27th, 2012, 7:45 PM at Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Attendance: 9,193
Referee: Alan Muir
Aberdeen Inverness CT

Goalscorers
Josh Magennis (45)
Josh Magennis (50)
Billy Mckay (36)
Gary Warren (58)
Billy Mckay (82)

Team Managers
Craig Brown Terry Butcher

Starting Eleven
Jamie Langfield
Russell Anderson
Mark Reynolds
Andrew Considine
Josh Magennis
Joe Shaughnessy
Chris Clark
Niall McGinn
Jonny Hayes
Rory Fallon
Scott Vernon
Antonio Reguero
Josh Meekings
Gary Warren
David Raven
Graeme Shinnie
Aaron Doran
Andrew Shinnie
Owain Tudur Jones
Richie Foran
Billy Mckay
Philip Roberts

Bench
Jason Brown
Jordon Brown
Jamie Masson
Declan McManus
Craig Murray
Stephen O Neill
Cammy Smith
Scott Mathieson
Gavin Morrison
Liam Polworth
Ross Draper
Conor Pepper
Jason Oswell
Matthew Cooper

Substitutions
Jamie Masson -> Chris Clark (29)
Cammy Smith -> Jamie Masson (79)
Declan McManus -> Jonny Hayes (86)
Ross Draper for Philip Roberts (59)

Bookings
Chris Clark (25)
Josh Magennis (45)
Scott Vernon (72)
Gary Warren (42)

Red Cards
None. None.
Appearances & Goals To Date
Antonio Reguero (GK) 10 apps -
David Raven 19 apps -
Gary Warren 19 apps3 goals
Josh Meekings 39 apps -
Aaron Doran 47 apps4 goals
Graeme Shinnie 75 apps2 goals
Andrew Shinnie 39 apps17 goals
Owain Tudur Jones 29 apps1 goal
Richie Foran 147 apps36 goals
Billy Mckay 43 apps12 goals
Philip Roberts 11 apps1 goal
Ross Draper (sub) 16 apps3 goals

Starting Lineup
Youngest Player:Aaron Doran (21 years 204 days)
Oldest Player:Antonio Reguero (2014 years 121 days)
Average Player Age:25 years 156 days
Domestic Players:7 (63.64 % of starting eleven)

Matchday Squad
Youngest Player:Liam Polworth (18 years 51 days)
Oldest Player:Antonio Reguero (2014 years 121 days)
Average Player Age:23 years 363 days
Domestic Players:13 (72.22 % of matchday squad)

First Team Debuts

Milestones

Inverness take second spot for now.

Inverness kept their goals record going as Billy McKay opened the scoring in the 36th minute after a swift counter attack. Josh Magennis levelled one minute into stoppage time at the break courtesy of Chris Clark's injury, when he had to leave the game after half an hour. Aberdeen started the second half on the attack and it was no surprise when Magennis scored his second goal. Out of nothing Gary Warren made it two each from a corner and the game opened out thereafter. Billy McKay edged Inverness ahead inside the last ten minutes after a mistake by Russell Anderson and that ended the scoring.

A damp night in Aberdeen saw these two sides joust for second spot in the SPL, and we had an unusual substitution at half time as referee Alan Muir was replaced by fourth official Craig Charleston for the second half due to injury.

Ross Draper made the bench for this one but there were no changes on the park for Inverness with Phillip Roberts retaining his place in the starting eleven. Ryan Esson did not join Draper on the bench and Reguero continued in goal.

The Dons were forced into two changes to their starting XI with Rory Fallon and Joe Shaughnessy in for the injured Isaac Osbourne with Cammy Smith making the bench.

Here's Proctor with a report .......

Last season fans of both Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Aberdeen would laugh if you told them that 4 months into the campaign they would be playing a match where either side could go top of the SPL. That is exactly what happened at a rainy Pittodrie last night.

The Caley Jags looked unimpressive early on. Aberdeen’s revered midfield created a number of chances which were well saved by Spaniard Antonio Reguero.

It could be argued that play in the first half was hampered by a number of fouls. ICT looked at their best from the resulting set pieces. Aberdeen’s Chris Clark was cautioned for a foul on Aaron Doran. Clark wouldn’t be on the pitch much longer, several minutes later the midfielder was stretchered off and replaced by Jamie Masson.

The deadlock was eventually broken in the 35th minute with a great run by Andrew Shinnie and Richie Foran. The pair sprinted down the right flank and Foran crossed the ball into the box where Billy McKay knocked the ball past Jamie Langfield with a low tap similar to the one he scored at Parkhead at the weekend.

For the next ten minutes Inverness were joint top of the SPL and the volatile Dons fans were getting frustrated. The reds had a penalty claim turned down when Rory Fallon looked to be fumbled.

Shortly afterwards Aberdeen pulled level when some fancy footwork by former ICT player Jonny Hayes saw him pass to Josh Magennis who finished with ease. The half time whistle went shortly after.

There was an unusual change in personnel at half time as a tannoy announcement was sent out asking for another match official. The call was answered by Craig Charleston.

Aberdeen seemed hungry and determined to take the lead after the restart. Reguero had to tip a header from Joe Shaughnessy over the bar. Josh Magennis would pop up again to grab the Dons second shortly after when he knocked the ball over Reguero while the keeper was on the ground.

Much like in the second half, ICT came into life following set-pieces. It would be a corner that would get Inverness back into the game. Aaron Doran crossed the ball into the box where Gary Warren headed it in to draw level.

At 2 all the game became rather lively with some great end to end football. Jonny Hayes came close to netting for the Dons with a tremendous run which resulted in his shot going wide of the left post while Richie Foran struggled to get on the end of an Andrew Shinnie cross. The certainly looked more reflective of a top of the table clash.

Visiting fans would have to wait till the 81st minute to see any of the chances created by ICT converted into goals. Billy McKay capitalised on the Dons inability to deal with a David Raven long ball from the half way line. McKay placed the ball past the blundering Aberdeen keeper for his 9th goal of the season and third in a week. The fans aptly chanted that the young international scores when he wants.

The home fans drifted away into the bitter north east night and the travelling band of jubilant ICT supporters were riled up by Terry Butcher who could head up the A96 knowing his side were joint top of the SPL.

Match report written by tm4tj



Pld W D L F A +/- Pts
1. Celtic 14 7 4 3 24 13 11 25
2. Inverness CT 16 6 7 3 31 28 3 25
3. Hibernian 15 7 3 5 26 21 5 24
4. Aberdeen 16 6 6 4 22 17 5 24
5. Motherwell 16 6 6 4 24 20 4 24
6. St. Johnstone 15 6 5 4 19 19 0 23
7. Dundee Utd 15 5 5 5 19 20 -1 20
8. Kilmarnock 15 5 4 6 23 20 3 19
9. Hearts 15 4 6 5 14 14 0 18
10. Ross County 16 3 8 5 17 22 -5 17
11. St. Mirren 16 4 4 8 20 28 -8 16
12. Dundee 15 3 2 10 10 27 -17 11