Sizzling Staggies crush runners-up Aberdeen on final day of the season
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ROSS County rounded off their Ladbrokes Premiership season with a stunning 4-0 win at Ladbrokes Premiership runners-up Aberdeen today (Sunday).
The Dingwall club's finishing position of sixth was confirmed with their 3-1 midweek defeat at home to Motherwell, while Aberdeen went in to this one on the back of a 1-0 loss against Hearts at Pittodrie on Thursday.
Forward Brian Graham's penalty gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half and an Alex Schalk strike just before the break made it two for the visitors.
Liam Boyce, who is aiming to make the Northern Ireland Euro2016 squad in the finals in France this summer, bagged his 20 goal of the season.
A cracker of a strike from Martin Woods rounded off a remarkable end to the season for County in sensational style.
Jim McIntyre's Staggies, who made history by winning their first major national trophy when lifting the League Cup in March, can be delighted with their overall season, ending in a place many so-called bigger clubs below them would loved to have been.
Since winning the League Cup in March, however, the figures didn't look too healthy.
They arrived in the Granite City with just one win since beating Hibs at Hampden in that final, although draws away to St Johnstone, Celtic and Hearts indicate performances better than results.
In their last visit to the Granite City, they were 1-0 at the break before a strong Dons side blasted back after the break to win 3-1.
Aberdeen also posted a 3-2 win at the Global Energy Stadium in January, but County showed they can get the better of the Reds this season as they beat them 2-0 at home in October.
Changes from Wednesday's defeat to Motherwell were starts for defender Scott Boyd, wide midfielder Raffaele De Vita and strikers Liam Boyce and Graham in an exciting 4-4-3 formation.
On-loan Dons forward David Goodwillie was ineligible, while dropping to the bench were defender Richard Foster and midfielders Jonathan Franks and Stewart Murdoch.
Aberdeen announced this week that they plan a £40million move away from the famous Pittodrie Stadium in three years to a purpose-built ground with top class facilities in the west of the city.
Their home form this season kept them on champions Celtic's tail for much of the campaign before they faded late on, with St Johnstone's stunning 5-1 demolition job being their disappointment here.
Their manager Derek McInnes made several changes from their side which lost 1-0 to Hearts on Thursday, including handing Australian under-23 keeper Aaron Lennox his debut.
Former ICT star Barry Robson wore the captain's armband for the Reds in what was his last game for the club.
It was a strong start for the Dons and Kenny McLean flashed a low drive wide early on after linking up well with Jonny Hayes.
Lennox got his first taste for the action when he denied Martin Woods before County keeper Scott Fox superbly saved another low effort, this time from Scott Wright.
Woods, always a danger from a free-kick, got an opportunity from one on 13 minutes after Willo Flood felled Alex Schalk, but this time it finished wide of the right post.
At the other end, Hayes then sent over an inviting cross from the right, but Niall McGinn's header did little to trouble Fox, who gathered without fuss.
County gained the advantage on 24 minutes when Schalk earned the Staggies a 24 minute spot-kick.
The Dutchman burst into the box after being picked out by Boyce and was brought down by Lennox.
Up stepped Graham and he hammered the ball beyond the goalkeeper high into the net to make it 1-0 for his 10 goal of the campaign.
Chances in the remainder of the first half were few and far between with Aberdeen's Hayes going the closest with a dipping effort after the hosts had probed for a while without being given an inch by the well-drilled County team.
On the stroke of half-time, Lennox turned a stinging Gardyne effort around the post for a corner.
From that Woods set-piece, Graham knocked it back across goal and Schalk rifled a shot past Lennox high into the net for a 2-0 interval lead and his ninth goal of the season.
A free-kick early in the second half was taken by De Vita, after Boyce was tripped by Ash Taylor. It was laid off for Woods, who drilled the ball over the top from fully 25 yards.
Aberdeen were looking for a way into this contest and County were sharp in attack, with Graham flashing a low effort wide on 56 minutes after Jackson Irvine found him.
The home side offered plenty of endeavour, but County were more than holding their own.
Aberdeen almost got on the scoresheet when Flood went for goal with a header, but Scott Fox superbly saved at close range then Flood put the follow-up over the bar.
Just moments after missing a golden chance, Boyce hit his 20 of the season after a slip at the back let Graham in and he fed the ball to Boyce, who made no mistake as County continued to display their ruthless side.
That goal will not have gone unnoticed by his international manager Michael O'Neill as he heads down after the game to join his countrymen for a further chance to show what he can do in training and friendly games before finding out whether he makes the cut.
With 12 minutes to go, Woods underlined the Staggies' class this afternoon with wonderful shot from 30 yards which gave Lennox no chance.
Aberdeen: Lennox, Logan, Considine, Taylor, McKenna (Harvie 29), Flood, Robson (Nuttall 59), Wright, Hayes, McGinn (Smith 59), McLean. Subs not used: Brown (GK), Reynolds, Storie, Ross, Smith.
Ross County: Fox, Graham, De Vita, Woods, Gardyne (Franks 83), Robertson, Boyce, Quinn, Boyd, Irvine (Murdoch 80), Schalk. Subs not used: Woods (GK), Foster, McLaughlin, Dingwall, McShane.
Referee: Willie Collum.
Attendance: 10,003.
