Duk blueprint for Aberdeen FC success handed to next boss by Peter Leven as 'handful' forward hailed

Peter Leven hailed supersub Duk for helping sink Ross County as Aberdeen sailed six points clear of the Staggies with their first home league win in seven games.

The caretaker boss - who insists he still has no idea when a permanent appointment will be made at Pittodrie - launched the Cape Verde forward into battle midway through the second half with the game level. And Duk produced the vital spark as the Dons edged a massive drop zone dogfight thanks to Jamie McGrath’s 76th minute winner after Simon Murray had cancelled out Bojan Miovski ’s early opener.

They might still be without a manager but Aberdeen showed County who's boss as they made it four wins from four meetings in all competitions this season to leave the Dingwall side deep in the mire. And Leven said: “I'm delighted with the three points and result but the performance could have been better.

“The subs were brilliant, when Duk is like that he’s a handful for anyone. I told him to get at the full back, be positive, direct and get into the box. His power and pace was great for the second goal.

“The subs came on and did what we hope they'd do. I told them at half-time to relax on the ball. At times we looked nervous, trying the hard pass when the simple one was on.

“I told them that wasn’t us and thankfully in the second half we improved. I thought in the second half they were great, the character was brilliant.

“Unless someone tells me something over the weekend I’ll be in on Monday. I’m working day by day and haven’t had any indication of anything else.”

Mystery continues to surround when the Dons will appoint their third permanent boss of the season. But Leven made sure he joined his players in applauding all four stands of home fans after the