Aberdeen midfielder Willo Flood hailed match-winner Kenny McLean after his third goal in four matches got the Dons’ Premiership campaign off to a flying start with a 1-0 win at Tannadice.
McLean headed home with just seven minutes remaining, handing the Reds a welcome three points between crucial Europa League matches against Kazakhstan side Kairat Almaty, who they trail 2-1 going into Thursday’s second leg at Pittodrie.
McLean failed to score for the Dons last season after joining from St Mirren midway through the campaign but there were no doubts about the 23-year-old’s ability according to Flood.
Flood said: “Everybody can see Kenny has been brilliant. I thought he did well last year, he just never got the breaks with the goals he needed.
“It was a good result. I felt the first half was a bit scrappy, but after the break I felt we controlled the game. We played some decent stuff and should maybe have killed the game off.”
Flood was one of four changes made by manager Derek McInnes after the return from central Asia, a journey which took more than 10 hours.
Although not part of the travelling squad the former Manchester City and Cardiff City midfielder was impressed with his team-mates’ ability to cope with the fitness demands placed on them.
Flood added: “It was all right for me as I never travelled – I had a bad ankle. I was happy to be out there.
“They are all fit lads. We are lucky we have such a good sports scientist at the club. We’ve got players such as Jonny Hayes – he’s just a machine who can go all day.
“We’re just lucky we have such a good squad. The manager made a few changes that freshened it up.”
The 30-year-old was handed the captain’s armband against his former club in place of the rested Ryan Jack, and Flood paid tribute to the character his side showed to force the winning goal so close to the end.
He said: “I’m sure other teams coming to Tannadice would have lost that match. Our goalkeeper made a world class save in the first-half. He is a match-winner for us. In the second half we got the break, we had one cleared off the line and a few scrambles.
“We were happy with the performance in the second-half and have to make sure we keep going from now.”