Jimmy Thelin showcased his impressive tactical nous once again as substitute Peter Ambrose's goal helped Aberdeen defeat Dundee United to go top of the Scottish Premiership on Saturday night.
Celtic have the opportunity to leapfrog the Dons on goal difference should they triumph against Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday. But Aberdeen's never-say-die attitude to seal the 1-0 win on 84 minutes emphasised that the north-east club aren't going away in what could be an intriguing title race this season.
With the scores level and neither team really able to carve up many clear-cut chances, Thelin made the half-time alteration which saw Shayden Morris replace Topi Keskinen - and the former Fleetwood Town winger was unplayable throughout the second half.
Goalscorer Ambrose has been lesser-spotted since arriving from Ujpest in the summer yet his contribution proved vital in front of a sold-out Pittodrie. He reacted quickest after the ball was played back into the six-yard box by Nicky Devlin, and fired beyond United goalkeeper Jack Walton.
The Aberdeen manager was full of praise for all the players that were unleashed from the bench as he provided his reaction to making it 15 games unbeaten under his leadership, winning 14 in the process.
Read more:
- Aberdeen 1 Dundee Utd 0: Ambrose proves the hero as Dons continue run
- Jimmy Thelin understands Aberdeen title talk but urges calendar check
"[The substitutes] were so good again today," he said. "I'm happy for the players and the team. We have an amazing team spirit. I'm so happy when they get to have a big impact on the game.
“We have to be clear, the players have different skills and characteristics. So we have some ideas of how we want to play but we have to use the players who can contribute as good as possible to the team.
“And Shayden is really good one against one and Peter has been good in the sessions over the last weeks now and deserves some minutes and did an amazing goal.
“But everybody deserves it for how they try and how they push and how they believe in each other, that’s the most important thing."
Analysing the 90 minutes, the Swede continued: "We always try to find solutions. First half, we were open. We did not play exactly how we wanted. We talked at half-time about patience and finding more crosses. But still they are dangerous in transitions and set-plays, but we were sharp today.
"It is a strong togetherness. You hear the sound of the fans and the energy they give to the players. I hope everyone enjoyed this evening. Tomorrow we start working for the next game again."
"It feels amazing, honestly," said a jubilant Morris. "We didn't get the goal until the end but we're digging in. We have that spirit where we do believe it's going to come at some point if we keep just doing what we're doing. Thankfully, Peter came up with the goods.
"Sometimes we don't start games, me and Peter didn't start today but we did make a huge impact. The gaffer just tells us 'if you aren't starting that's not how it's going to end the game. So we are always ready to come on and make an impact. In the week in training, we're always ready for our chance. Coming on, we are ready!"
On scoring his first league goal for the Granite City outfit, Ambrose beamed: "The goal, the feeling was amazing. The timing to win the game was really amazing. You see all the fans singing and they are happy. We are here to make them happy and we got the three points."
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