Aberdeen assistant Tony Docherty praises performance after cup run continues

Shay Logan's late winner saw Aberdeen book their place in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup after a 1-0 win at Ross County.

Tony Docherty
Published 11th Feb 2017

Tony Docherty praised the Aberdeen players for an outstanding performance'' against Ross County after booking their place in the last eight of the Scottish Cup.

A late Shay Logan goal secured a deserved fifth round victory for a dominant Dons' side.

The tie looked to be heading for a replay when Logan struck with just four minutes left on the clock. A curling effort from the full back appeared to take a slight deflection on its way into the net off the inside of the post.

The Aberdeen assistant manager said: I thought we were fantastic. Our defending was excellent and our pressing of the ball was great.''

Docherty also praised the County keeper for keeping the scoreline blank for so long.

He added: It was an outstanding performance from Scott Fox. It gets to the stage when you think, is it going to be one of those days? You are dominant but the opposition goalkeeper keeps you out.

But credit to our boys, they kept going and to get the winning goal the way we did from an unlikely source was pleasing.

The dominance of the performance merited us getting a result and getting through to the next round.''

He added: Ross County are a good team, a very good opponent. We knew it was going to be that type of game. I thought it was a fantastic advert for Scottish football. I do think the dominant team progressed.''

County boss Jim McIntyre was disappointed at the manner of the goal.

He said: To lose a goal late on, especially when it is deflected, is disappointing.

We struggled in the first half, especially to get out with the wind and we seemed to disappear at the start of the second half - we were hoping to use that as an advantage.

You have to credit Aberdeen they had more of the forward play than we did. But in terms of determination and fight we were scrapping away we didn't have a lot of quality when we got into the key areas and that was the problem which was really unlike us.''

The County manager has now targeted a top six finish to the season. He said: For me it has become a nine game season, and we will try to be the best of the rest and nail sixth spot.''