Winger Niall McGinn celebrated making his 300th appearance for Aberdeen at the weekend by helping them to a 1-0 win over Hamilton Academicals at Pittodrie.
The former Dungannon Swifts capped another fine performance for the Dons, who moved up to third in the table following the victory, by laying on the cross for Sam Cosgrove’s winning goal.
After the game Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes paid tribute to the 32-year-old on REDTV: “I’m delighted for Niall, he has been a constant consistent performer during my time at the club and every manager and every team needs that.
“Niall has been a key performer for us over the past few seasons whether he is scoring goals or assisting goals, he sometimes is the one that comes up with a moment of quality in the game.
“He was unlucky not to score today in the first half and I thought his movement and some of his play was very good.
“It’s good he was on the winning side in such a significant game for him.”
Elsewhere in the Scottish Premiership, Matty Kennedy popped up with his fourth assist of the campaign as St. Johnstone recorded their first league win away from home in 2019 following their 1-0 success at struggling Hearts.
In an extraordinary game at Elland Road, Cardiff City fought back from 3-0 down to earn a point against Leeds United for whom Stuart Dallas recorded his first assist of the season.
The Championship clash saw the return of winger Gavin Whyte who played the final half-hour of the 3-3 draw after missing Cardiff City last five outings with a hamstring injury he picked up on international duty with Northern Ireland last month.
“Speaking to irishfa.com Gavin said: “Was great to be back out there and the atmosphere at Elland Road was brilliant.
“It was my first game under the new manager so hopefully I can kick on from here and try get into the team again.”
Midfielder Paddy McNair faces a three-match ban after he was given a straight red-card after allegedly elbowing Matt Grimes as Middlesbrough, who also had Marcus Browne sent-off, went down 3-1 at Swansea City on Saturday.
However, his manager Jonathan Woodgate has stated the club will appeal McNair’s dismissal: “Paddy’s is not a red in my view,” declared Woodgate. “We’ll definitely be appealing Paddy’s, but not Marcus Browne’s, not a chance. Paddy McNair’s is a yellow card in my view.”
Meanwhile, in the Premier League, Craig Cathcart’s Watford lost 2-0 at runaway leaders Liverpool while Jonny Evans’ Leicester City were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at home by Norwich City for whom Jamal Lewis was an unused substitute.
