Match ends, Aberdeen 2, Partick Thistle 0.
AberdeenAberdeen2Partick ThistlePartick Thistle0
Aberdeen came away deserved winners after a pulsating Scottish Premiership clash with Partick Thistle.
Nicky Low put the Dons in front with a stunning drive from the edge of the box early in the second half.
And, the goal that sealed their victory came in equally impressive fashion as Niall McGinn powered home past Paul Gallacher.
The result means the hosts jump to eighth place in the table, leapfrogging their opponents.
Going into the match, Derek McInnes's men were looking to kick-start their season after a sluggish start, including last week's 1-0 defeat away to St Johnstone.
Thistle were also coming off the back of a defeat, following Hamilton Academical's 2-1 victory at Firhill.
And, it was the hosts who started brighter, zipping the ball around nicely through McGinn.
With barely enough time for fans to get comfortable in their seats, the Dons had the first effort on goal through David Goodwillie, but he could only drag a shot wide.
With the game stretched and being played at a frenetic pace, Stuart Bannigan gave the Pittodrie faithful a scare when he fired just past the post.
From then, it was all Aberdeen and they passed up three opportunities before the break.
First, a well-worked corner brought a teasing cross from Low that was met by the head of Goodwillie, but stopper Gallacher was equal to it.
Mark Reynolds must have thought he had got the elusive opener after finding himself in space and powering in a header but the defender's effort was cleared off the line.
And then McGinn tamely shot into the arms of Gallacher from a Jonny Hayes delivery.
The beginning of the second half followed the same pattern as the first, with Aberdeen taking the game to their rivals.
Their persistence paid dividends when Low's sizzling strike nestled in the corner of the net.
That lead could have been doubled almost instantly as Shay Logan's header whistled just beyond the post.
As the rain lashed down in the Granite City, the home side continued to press.
That was until Thistle finally stamped some authority on the game through Kallum Higginbotham's drilled shot but experienced keeper Jamie Langfield dispelled the danger and made an assured save.
McGinn then put the result beyond doubt when he unleashed a powerful shot from the right-hand side of the box.
Although Jags new boy Jake Carroll looked lively and Gary Fraser forced Langfield into action late on, Alan Archibald's charges were unable to break down a strong Aberdeen.
And, they could have been further behind at the death, as Barry Robson struck a thunderous free-kick from 25 yards that would have found the goal but for a magnificent touch from Gallacher.
Line-ups
Aberdeen
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Langfield
- 3Considine
- 5Taylor
- 2Logan
- 6Reynolds
- 22Jack
- 16PawlettSubstituted forRooneyat 88'minutes
- 18LowSubstituted forSmithat 79'minutes
- 11HayesSubstituted forRobsonat 75'minutes
- 10McGinn
- 17Goodwillie
Substitutes
- 9Rooney
- 14Smith
- 15Robson
- 19Robertson
- 20Brown
- 21Shaughnessy
- 39Wright
Partick Thistle
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12Gallacher
- 6BalatoniSubstituted forMuirheadat 78'minutes
- 2O'DonnellBooked at 31mins
- 17Carroll
- 3Seaborne
- 15HigginbothamBooked at 41mins
- 18OsmanBooked at 60mins
- 22Fraser
- 8Bannigan
- 14ElliottSubstituted forDoolanat 62'minutes
- 10StevensonSubstituted forLawlessat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Fox
- 5Muirhead
- 7Craigen
- 9Doolan
- 11Lawless
- 23Wilson
- 30Keenan
- Referee:
- Brian Colvin
- Attendance:
- 11,003
Match Stats
Home TeamAberdeenAway TeamPartick Thistle
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away1
- Corners
- Home12
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aberdeen 2, Partick Thistle 0.
Post update
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Aaron Muirhead.
Post update
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Shaleum Logan.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Adam Rooney replaces Peter Pawlett.
Post update
Attempt missed. Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt saved. Barry Robson (Aberdeen) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Post update
Foul by Steven Lawless (Partick Thistle).
Post update
Ryan Jack (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Aaron Muirhead.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Danny Seaborne.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Steven Lawless replaces Ryan Stevenson.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Cameron Smith replaces Nicky Low.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Aaron Muirhead replaces Conrad Balatoni because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Barry Robson replaces Jonny Hayes because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Gary Fraser (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Goal!
Goal! Aberdeen 2, Partick Thistle 0. Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner.
Post update
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Conrad Balatoni.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
