Ross County 1 - 1 Aberdeen

There were three changes for the Dons for the midweek trip to Dingwall, with fit again Jonny Hayes and Dylan McGeouch back in the side and Vicente Besuijen making his debut after signing last week. They replaced Teddy Jenks and Dean Campbell, who both start from the bench, and Ryan Hedges. Jack Mackenzie, Adam Montgomery and Michael Ruth were added to the substitutes.

Ross County 3-3 drew at home to Rangers on Saturday, up to 10th and clear of the relegation places. There were three changes to that team, Ross Laidlaw, Dominic Samuel and Keith Watson replacing Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Jack Baldwin and Harry Paton.

Thankfully the weekend storms had settled somewhat before the game and the Dons started well at Dingwall, a Calvin Ramsay free-kick on four minutes producing a good header at the near post from Lewis Ferguson, Laidlaw doing well to get down to his left to scramble the ball away at the foot of the post.

A Hayes free-kick from the left was the next real incident on 15 minutes. The ball was headed clear, McGeouch coming onto it from 20 yards but volleying the ball into the ground and up into Laidlaw's arms.

Funso Ojo was the next instigator on 20 minutes, a crossfield pass picking out Ramsay. He came inside but was always falling away on his left foot shot which swung well wide of goal.

Samuel was the first yellow card of the evening on 26 minutes, dragging McCrorie back by the collar as he charged forward through midfield. Two minutes later, a neat pass from McGeouch found Ojo 25 yards out but his dipping drive was pushed away to his right by Laidlaw.

Besuijen was enjoying a promising debut and he showed great control and speed to create space on the right to spear in a dangerous cross on the half hour, County just able to clear their lines.

Ferguson collected a loose ball on halfway a minute later. He advanced half a dozen paces and then unleashed a fierce drive that swerved just the wrong side of the post. The hosts finally threatened on 35 minutes, Scott Brown clearing White's shot from inside the six yard box after good work by Charles-Cook.

Tillson was next in the book, hauling Ferguson down as he was on the run in the 42nd minute, but the resulting free-kick came to nothing.

HALF-TIME: ROSS COUNTY 0 ABERDEEN 0

The Staggies made one change at the break, Randall on for Ramsay at right-back.

That channel was the source of an Aberdeen lead on 48 minutes. Brown looped a long ball down the left wing, Hayes accelerating on to it. He chested it down just inside the box and then drilled a low shot across Laidlaw and into the far corner, a lovely, crisp finish.

Aberdeen weren't far from doubling the advantage two minutes later, Besuijen's shot cannoning into Christian Ramirez, Laidlaw clawing the ball to safety low to his right. Hungbo was then into the book, a bit harshly it seemed, for diving on 52 minutes.

There was better news for County a minute later as they squared up the game. Callachan fed Charles-Cook on the left. His cross was deflected back into the path of Callachan who had time to pick his spot from the edge of the area, firing the ball through a crowd of players and into the bottom corner.

Hayes was the first Aberdeen man to be cautioned on 58 minutes after a foul on Hungbo. Charles-Cook followed him into the book seconds later after flattening Besuijen.

A great break from Aberdeen should have ended in a goal on the hour. A lovely pass from McGeouch set Ramirez on his way and he slid the ball wide to Ojo, a little too wide as it turned out. Ojo lost the momentum as a result and his shot was turned wide by Laidlaw.

Brown was next to get into a good position, a curling ball in from Hayes reaching him 15 yards out, but he put his header wide of goal. The skipper then went in the book for a slight nudge on White before Hungbo was replaced by Paton on 67 minutes. Jenks was Aberdeen's first change two minutes later, McGeouch going off. He was immediately clobbered by Paton who became County's fifth booking of the night.

Good possession play from Aberdeen down the right resulted in Hayes having a decent crack at the target from 30 yards out, the ball flashing just over the bar on 74 minutes. Hayes came close again four minutes later, David Bates bringing the ball forward and squeezing a pass into the Irishman who jabbed a shot goalwards from a tight angle, Laidlaw grabbing it at the second attempt.

Ramirez was next to try his luck, a short backlift and a stabbed shot at goal from the edge of the area, Laidlaw scrambling it wide. Laidlaw missed the corner, the ball finding Ojo at the back post. He manufactured a backheel at goal that hit Laidlaw and bounced to safety, not that the goalkeeper knew much about it. That was Ojo's last involvement, replaced by MacKenzie on 81.

Joe Lewis was called into sharp action with five minutes to go, Paton found around the penalty spot by a low cross. His shot looked goalbound but Lewis was down smartly to smother the ball, an important save. Ferguson was booked a minute later for obstruction.

A quick ball out from Lewis as we went into added time set Besuijen and Hayes away down the right, Hayes' cross going just behind Ramirez but he could only scoop the ball over from 20 yards.