Winger Niall McGinn scored his second goal in three games to help Aberdeen to all three points following their 2-1 victory over St Mirren at Pittodrie at the weekend.
Not only was it the 32-year-old’s fourth goal of the campaign but it was also the 500th competitive goal scored during manager Derek McInnes’ six-year tenure at the club.
Ironically McGinn also scored the first goal of McInnes’ reign back in 2013 in a 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock.
“To score the first and then the 500th under McInnes is nice and with it being my 299th appearance it’s a bit special for me too,” admitted the former Dungannon Swifts player.
“I’ve been here almost all of his time in charge so to score the winner is good. I’ve scored a lot of goals and played a lot of football for him.
“I’m delighted to have done my bit in a good win for us.”
Striker Liam Boyce made it two goals in as many games when he found the net in Burton Albion’s 1-0 FA Cup second round victory at Oldham Athletic on Saturday.
It is the 28-year-old’s ninth goal of the season for Nigel Clough’s side who now await today’s third round draw.
The only other Northern Ireland player to get his name on the scoresheet over the weekend was former under-21 international Ally Roy, who took his tally for the season to five after his goal in Airdrie’s 4-0 demolition of East Fife.
Blackburn Rovers midfielder Corry Evans will want to forget an own goal as his side recorded a 2-1 success at Michael O’Neill’s Stoke City to chalk up their third successive league victory.
Elsewhere in the Championship, striker Josh Magennis was absent from the Hull City side that lost 3-1 at bottom-placed Barnsley after being ruled out for up to eight weeks with a hamstring injury.
“Josh is going to be out for about six to eight weeks with a grade two hamstring tear,” said Tigers boss Grant McCann after the loss at Oakwell. “Six weeks if we’re lucky.
“He did it in training yesterday (Friday), just a back heel. Innocuous really, he just tried to keep the ball in play with nobody near him. That’s disappointing.”
Winger’s Shane Ferguson (cartilage) and Gavin Whyte (hamstring) remained sidelined while Hearts full-back Michael Smith missed the Edinburgh outfit’s 5-0 defeat at Rangers through illness.
On a positive note Jamal Lewis recovered from a knee injury to take his place on the bench as Norwich City drew 2-2 at Carrow Road against Arsenal in the Premier League.
Jonny Evans recovered sufficiently from from a thigh injury to star in Leicester City 2-1 win over Everton while Craig Cathcart was in the Watford side that remain rooted at the bottom of the Premier League table following their 2-1 loss at Southampton.
Finally, striker Kyle Lafferty’s campaign in Norway is complete after Sarpsborg 08 drew their final league game of the season ended scoreless against Lillestrom, a result which sees them retain their top-flight status next term.
