There were three changes from the eleven that crumbled at Ibrox. Jeffers, Murphy and Forbes started with Page, Humphrey and Jones making way. We were in the white away strip and attacked the beach end as the Dons kicked off.
The few hundred fans in the away enclosure feared the worst when Aluko scored with barely two minutes on the clock. Whether it was the wet and windy conditions or some early nerves in our defence , the result was that we stood off the attacker and let him pick his spot from 16 yards.
To our credit the players got their heads down and started to play their way back into the game. Despite the conditions we passed the ball though midfield and took control. Forbes tested Langfied with a fierce and well placed free kick then Murphy tried his luck with a good drive. Sutton and Jeffers combined well but it was captain Craigan who popped up on the left wing to deliver a chipped cross to allow Jeffers to glance a header into the net for the equaliser.
Our new striker looked the part and he he could have had another two before the half hour. First. He dribbled into the box with defenders in his wake but ran out of steam and could manage only a weak shot. Next, he whipped in a curling left foot effort that forced a diving save from the ‘keeper.
The break came as a relief to the home side and they knew that they were fortunate to be level. The second half did not produce the same flowing football but there was plenty of action, much of it from the referee. Hartley lashed out following a fierce challenge from Lasley. Our man saw yellow and Hartley was sent for an early bath. A flurry of yellow cards followed.
Humphrey and Lasley came off the bench as Jeffers and Lasley were substituted. As often happens, the ten men redoubled their efforts and we struggled to take advantage of the extra man. The winner came with twenty minutes remaining. Murphy won a tussle for a ball over the top and kept his cool to roll the ball into the corner.
Murphy came very, very close in the dying minutes when he took the ball beyond despairing legs and reached the post but the ball seemed caught under his legs and he couldn’t force it home.
The four added minutes passed without loss and the players were able to celebrate a fine wine that propels us from eighth to fifth. With two home games ahead this was just the tonic we needed.
Cheer up Craigy Broon!