Gary Glen's late goal moved Ross County to third in the Scottish Premier League after beating Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

A drab first half saw Ryan Jack go close for the hosts while County's Ivan Sproule tested Jamie Langfield.

Sproule had the visitors' best chances of a similarly dull second half before Niall McGinn hit the side-netting.

But substitute Gary Glen finished Steffen Wohlfarth's flick with 10 minutes to go to put County level on points with Inverness CT.

Aberdeen were looking for their first ever competitive win over Ross County after drawing and losing the previous two meetings of 2012/13.

Jonny Hayes returned to the home side's starting XI and within sixty seconds foraged forward menacingly before being brought to a halt by County's Mihael Kovacevic.

With the game initially lacking fluidity, a decent Russell Anderson interception on 11 minutes eventually sparked an Aberdeen attack that ended with a Hayes cross which County keeper Mark Brown gathered at the second attempt.

The Dons took the game to Derek Adams' men again in the 25th minute.

A floated Hayes pass put Jack in behind County's Evangelos Ikonomou on the right side of the box and the Scotland under-21 international cut inside to send in a low left-footed shot wide of the goal.

Robertson and Sproule

Aberdeen's Clark Robertson clears under pressure from Ross County's Ivan Sproule

The visitors had rarely threatened but on 35 minutes Sproule suddenly supplied the game's best chance.

Ikonomou found Sproule on the left channel and the Northern Irishman flashed in a low right-footed effort which Langfield had to divert wide for a corner.

County sustained that pressure and a Kovacevic effort, after he dispossessed Hayes, gave Langfield more to do before half-time.

Dons manager Craig Brown replaced Fallon with Peter Pawlett at the beginning of the second period but it was 'as you were' in terms of a spectacle.

Aberdeen's Gavin Rae blazed over from Hayes' lay-off on the hour mark to prompt another groan from the Pittodrie crowd.

On 64 minutes, Sproule received a long ball in the box with his back to goal and wriggled away from Dons captain Russell Anderson to shoot tamely.

A minute later Sproule, looking for his sixth Ross County goal, worked Langfield again with a near-post drive but the home keeper was equal to it.

The striker was substituted for Glen soon after, a swap Sproule did not look enthused about.

With 15 minutes remaining, Langfield's long punt was misjudged by Scott Boyd in the County defence and McGinn hit a left-footer high into the side netting to remind the visitors of his presence.

Aberdeen's Pawlett did well to drift past Grant Munro on 78 minutes but his left-foot shot was weak.

Then, when a goal-less draw looked inevitable, County took the lead.

Rocco Quinn's right-wing cross was flicked on nicely by Wohlfarth in the direction of Glen, who blasted high past Langfield at the near-post from eight yards.

Aberdeen almost replied immediately as Rae latched onto Pawlett's pass in the box to force an excellent low save from Brown.

However, County ground out the victory to remain undefeated against the Dons and go level on points with second-placed Highland neighbours Inverness CT.

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (5)

Aberdeen

  • 01 Langfield
  • 02 Jack
  • 03 Robertson
  • 04 Anderson
  • 22 Reynolds
  • 05 Rae
  • 10 McGinn
  • 11 Hayes (McManus - 79' )
  • 18 Hughes (Milsom - 63' )
  • 14 Fallon (Pawlett - 46' )
  • 21 Magennis

Substitutes

  • 20 Twardzik
  • 13 Low
  • 17 Naysmith
  • 08 Milsom
  • 15 Pawlett
  • 09 Vernon
  • 34 McManus

Ross County

  • 25 Brown
  • 04 Munro
  • 05 Boyd
  • 18 Ikonomou
  • 22 Kovacevic
  • 08 Lawson
  • 10 Brittain
  • 11 Vigurs
  • 12 Quinn
  • 16 Sproule (Glen - 72' )
  • 17 Morrow (Steffen Wohlfarth - 65' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Fraser
  • 13 Hainault
  • 23 Macphee
  • 21 Cooper
  • 15 Steffen Wohlfarth
  • 20 Glen
  • 26 Dingwall
Ref: Crawford
Att: 6,394

Match Stats

Shots

10 7

On target

6 6

Corners

4 4

Fouls

15 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:05 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

87:52

Unfair challenge on Russell Anderson by Gary Glen results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Josh Magennis.

86:51

Peter Pawlett crosses the ball, Robert Milsom takes a shot. Comfortable save by Mark Brown.

86:26

Steffen Wohlfarth is caught offside. Jamie Langfield restarts play with the free kick.

86:16

Peter Pawlett produces a cross, clearance by Grant Munro.

84:46

Iain Vigurs fouled by Russell Anderson, the ref awards a free kick. Grant Munro takes the free kick.

84:22

Gavin Rae takes a shot. Save made by Mark Brown.

82:40

Peter Pawlett gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rocco Quinn. Grant Munro takes the free kick.

82:02

Richard Brittain fouled by Gavin Rae, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Lawson restarts play with the free kick.

80:32

Steffen Wohlfarth provided the assist for the goal.

80:32 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Glen - Aberdeen 0 - 1 Ross Co Goal scored by Gary Glen from close range to the top right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 0-1 Ross County.

79:11

Foul by Rocco Quinn on Robert Milsom, free kick awarded. Robert Milsom takes the direct free kick.

78:10 Substitution

Substitution (Aberdeen) makes a substitution, with Declan McManus coming on for Johnny Hayes.

77:31

Peter Pawlett has an effort at goal from 18 yards. Save by Mark Brown.

75:05

Effort from deep inside the area by Niall McGinn misses to the left of the target.

74:49

Steffen Wohlfarth produces a cross, clearance made by Clark Robertson.

74:10

Centre by Rocco Quinn, clearance made by Russell Anderson.

73:26

The ball is delivered by Richard Brittain, clearance made by Russell Anderson.

71:38 Substitution

Substitution Gary Glen on for Ivan Sproule.

71:38

The offside flag is raised against Steffen Wohlfarth. Russell Anderson takes the free kick.

68:42

Foul by Johnny Hayes on Richard Brittain, free kick awarded. Scott Boyd takes the free kick.

68:34

Johnny Hayes crosses the ball, clearance by Scott Boyd.

68:01

The official flags Iain Vigurs offside. Jamie Langfield takes the indirect free kick.

67:41

Steffen Wohlfarth fouled by Johnny Hayes, the ref awards a free kick. Richard Brittain takes the free kick.

66:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Niall McGinn by Paul Lawson. Mark Reynolds restarts play with the free kick.

66:10

Robert Milsom gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Richard Brittain. Grant Munro restarts play with the free kick.

65:34

Johnny Hayes has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area which goes wide right of the goal.

64:37

Gavin Rae makes a clearance.

64:37 Substitution

Substitution (Ross County) makes a substitution, with Steffen Wohlfarth coming on for Sam Morrow.

64:37

Corner taken by Iain Vigurs from the left by-line,

64:07

Ivan Sproule takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Langfield.

63:15

Ivan Sproule takes a shot. Jamie Langfield makes a comfortable save.

62:43 Substitution

Substitution Robert Milsom replaces Stephen Hughes.

62:26

Effort from deep inside the area by Niall McGinn misses to the right of the target.

61:15

Ivan Sproule takes a shot. Save by Jamie Langfield.

60:12

Gavin Rae has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

56:35

The ball is crossed by Rocco Quinn, Unfair challenge on Jamie Langfield by Iain Vigurs results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

55:58

Corner taken by Richard Brittain from the left by-line, Russell Anderson makes a clearance.

54:46

Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Jack from the left by-line played to the near post, Mihael Kovacevic manages to make a clearance.

54:34

Johnny Hayes sends in a cross, clearance made by Grant Munro.

53:43

Richard Brittain challenges Mark Reynolds unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the indirect free kick.

52:01

Johnny Hayes produces a cross.

51:45

Rocco Quinn concedes a free kick for a foul on Peter Pawlett. Free kick taken by Stephen Hughes.

51:09

The referee blows for offside against Ivan Sproule. Jamie Langfield restarts play with the free kick.

49:12

Johnny Hayes sends in a cross, Evangelos Ikonomou manages to make a clearance.

47:40

The ball is delivered by Johnny Hayes.

46:36

Gavin Rae concedes a free kick for a foul on Iain Vigurs. Grant Munro takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Peter Pawlett joins the action as a substitute, replacing Rory Fallon.

45:00 +0:17

Unfair challenge on Johnny Hayes by Mihael Kovacevic results in a free kick. Jamie Langfield restarts play with the free kick.

44:20

Rory Fallon fouled by Scott Boyd, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Mark Reynolds.

43:17

Evangelos Ikonomou fouled by Ryan Jack, the ref awards a free kick. Centre by Richard Brittain, Sam Morrow produces a header from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

43:08 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

43:01

Foul by Mark Reynolds on Ivan Sproule, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Richard Brittain.

42:29

The ball is swung over by Ryan Jack, clearance by Mark Brown.

41:39

Unfair challenge on Iain Vigurs by Gavin Rae results in a free kick. Richard Brittain crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, comfortable save by Jamie Langfield.

40:13

Mihael Kovacevic takes a shot. Jamie Langfield makes a save.

39:29

Unfair challenge on Johnny Hayes by Paul Lawson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

39:16

The ball is crossed by Iain Vigurs, clearance made by Russell Anderson.

38:40

Ivan Sproule produces a cross, Mark Reynolds gets a block in. Iain Vigurs takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Clark Robertson.

37:30

Ivan Sproule is penalised for a handball. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.

36:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mihael Kovacevic on Rory Fallon. Free kick crossed left-footed by Clark Robertson, clearance by Grant Munro.

34:09

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Richard Brittain, Rory Fallon manages to make a clearance.

33:53

Ivan Sproule takes a shot. Jamie Langfield makes a save.

32:51

The offside flag is raised against Johnny Hayes. Free kick taken by Scott Boyd.

32:25

Niall McGinn takes a shot. Mark Brown makes a comfortable save.

32:04

Mihael Kovacevic delivers the ball, Jamie Langfield makes a comfortable save.

30:39

Shot by Niall McGinn from 25 yards. Paul Lawson gets a block in.

28:56

Paul Lawson fouled by Gavin Rae, the ref awards a free kick. Scott Boyd takes the direct free kick.

28:26

Johnny Hayes takes a shot. Mark Brown makes a comfortable save.

27:57

The ball is sent over by Josh Magennis.

27:21

A cross is delivered by Ivan Sproule, Russell Anderson manages to make a clearance.

25:04

Corner from the left by-line taken by Ryan Jack, clearance by Scott Boyd.

24:48

Corner taken right-footed by Ryan Jack from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Grant Munro.

24:23

Corner taken by Ryan Jack played to the near post, Mihael Kovacevic manages to make a clearance.

24:11

Johnny Hayes produces a cross, Mark Brown makes a save.

23:33

Sam Morrow concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen Hughes. Josh Magennis restarts play with the free kick.

19:45

Ivan Sproule is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Direct free kick taken by Mark Reynolds.

17:27

Gavin Rae challenges Richard Brittain unfairly and gives away a free kick. Grant Munro takes the direct free kick.

17:15

Josh Magennis delivers the ball, clearance made by Grant Munro.

12:10

The ball is crossed by Rory Fallon, clearance by Scott Boyd.

9:06

Clark Robertson fouled by Ivan Sproule, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.

8:18

Foul by Richard Brittain on Clark Robertson, free kick awarded. Mark Reynolds takes the free kick.

7:15

The official flags Ivan Sproule offside. Mark Reynolds restarts play with the free kick.

6:56

Centre by Johnny Hayes, save by Mark Brown.

5:33

The official flags Sam Morrow offside. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

4:20

Foul by Clark Robertson on Ivan Sproule, free kick awarded. Iain Vigurs delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, clearance made by Rory Fallon.

2:44

The ball is crossed by Richard Brittain, save made by Jamie Langfield.

2:12

Sam Morrow fouled by Josh Magennis, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Richard Brittain, Gavin Rae makes a clearance.

0:31

Gavin Rae concedes a free kick for a foul on Iain Vigurs. Free kick taken by Paul Lawson.

0:00

The referee gets the match started.

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