Jamie McGrath knows new Aberdeen FC boss is already watching as Dons show him their 'ugly' side

The midfielder was the matchwinner as Aberdeen opened up a six point gap between themselves and Ross County.

The hunt for a new manager might be rumbling on into a fourth week at Aberdeen with the players as much in the dark as the perplexed Pittodrie punters.

But Jamie McGrath insists every member of the Dons’ playing staff is pushing himself to the limit as if the eyes of a new gaffer are on them already. And he’s fully aware that could very well be the case. It’s a situation the midfielder knows only too well as he prepares to play under a sixth boss in just two turbulent seasons at Aberdeen and Dundee United.

McGrath knows anyone with a fancy for the Pittodrie hot seat will be watching every kick and tackle as the Dons look to bring a bit of light to a gloomy season. The Irishman did his bit on Saturday as his 10th goal of the campaign earned a massive three points to help the Dons surge six clear of Ross County in the relegation play-off spot.

It’s now back-to-back wins under caretaker boss Peter Leven. And McGrath says the uncertainty hanging over the club is not affecting the players as the wait for a new leader continues. He said: “I don’t think so. We know Peter really well and have worked with him all season. We have full belief in what he does and we love playing under him.

“We don’t know who’s going to be the new gaffer. He could have been watching us against Ross County, we don’t know.

“So everyone has to play to their max as the new manager might come in and have different ideas. We’re all trying our best as we do every week whether there’s a manager there or not. Attitude today was brilliant although the performance wasn’t the best but we got there in the end.”

If Aberdeen’s next boss was watching he’d have seen the good, the bad and the mediocre of this entirely unpredictable squad. Off to a flying start thanks to Bojan Miovski’s first goal in nine games, they somehow went into their shells and allowed County to dictate for long spells and draw level through Simon Murray.

But the introduction of Duk in 66 minutes proved key as his power, pace and creativity provided a much-needed spark in the final third and was instrumental in teeing-up McGrath’s 77th-minute winner. McGrath said: “We knew before the game how important it was.

“There were no distractions about where we were in the league. We knew we had to get three points. It’s one of the few times this season where we’ve probably won ugly which is very satisfying.

“Duk came on and did brilliantly as did Dante Polvara. They probably won us the game as they had a really positive impact on the game.

“Duk did brilliantly and put it into my path so I couldn’t really miss. He showed what he’s about when he came on. That’s what we need, people hungry to come on and make a difference.

“Are we safe? I’m not sure as it can swing very quickly in the league one week to the next. So we can’t take our foot off the pedal for a minute. We have two games now before the split and our focus now is trying to get as much points pre-split then take it from there.”

Aberdeen blasted into a fifth minute lead when Miovski’s trundler was helped into the net by the hapless Loick Ayina whose comical attempted goal line clearance bounced off the underside of bar and in. But the Staggies took control of the majority of the first half with Yan Dhanda picking passes and Murray causing havoc up top.

And the Staggies striker netted his 17th goal of the in the 26th minute when he was allowed ll the room in the world to head home Dhanda’s cross from a short corner. Aberdeen were toiling and Nicky Devlin had to time a sliding tackle perfectly in his own box to deny Josh Sims a certain goal.

But Duk and Polvara turned the game in the closing quarter. County keeper George Wickens escaped with a yellow card for flattening Duk 25 yards out with 20 minutes to go. But there was no stopping the diminutive forward shortly afterwards when he took a pass from Jack MacKenzie, rolled Ayina and fired over a low cross for McGrath to convert the winnner.

It’s now double figures for only the second time in his career. And McGrath said: “There is still a good few games to go so hopefully I can add to that between now and the end of the season. I haven’t really scored from the spot this season either so that’s another positive.

“It’s about constantly working on getting into the right areas. They tend to come in waves I’ve found. Once you hit one then two and three come so fingers crossed I hit a bit of a run and finish the season strong.”