Jayden Stockley singled out for praise by Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes hailed the performance of Jayden Stockley after the striker secured a 2-1 victory over Partick Thistle with a classy finish at Firhill.

Stockley marked his first Premiership start for almost two months with a glorious left-footed chip from 20 yards in the 53rd minute.

Adam Barton had headed an equaliser for Thistle two minutes earlier after Anthony O'Connor struck following a set-piece six minutes before the break. And Aberdeen stood firm to return to second spot.

Stockley started up front alongside Adam Rooney and McInnes was delighted with the way they linked up.

"We have been saying to Jayden, 'you have got to show you are more than a targetman, play the way you train'," the Dons boss said. "He has got great feet, he looks after the ball well, he can finish off either foot.

"He never stood up against the centre-halves the whole night, he drifted it and linked it and moved and his finish was absolutely different class.

"I was hoping he wouldn't try and go round the keeper because he hasn't exactly got blistering pace, but he was so accurate with his chip. It was a fantastic finish."

McInnes added: "I thought it was no more than we deserved. We didn't expect to get it all our own way, but I would have taken that performance and result before the game because this will be a tough place to come this season and take all three points. We are just just delighted we came here and got them."

Thistle manager Alan Archibald bemoaned the loss of a goal so soon after his side had capitalised on some sustained pressure early in the second half.

"It's bitterly disappointing," he said. "I don't know if they got caught up in the occasion after they scored but there were a lot of mistakes in the goal from our point of view. I know it was a sublime finish from the lad but there were a lot of key errors in decision-making from us.

"We had changed our shape and I thought we were causing them a few problems, and to lose a goal as quickly as we did kind of kills you a little bit."