A NUMBER of times this season, at their manager's own admission, there has been no case for the Ross County defence.

Errors have sometimes undermined decent performances. So this showing against Aberdeen - County's third game without conceding - seemed like a small landmark.

It was a strong team display, but one where Melvin de Leeuw, the increasingly impressive Dutchman, again made a telling impact - his sublime pass freeing Rocco Quinn for the winner - and his skill and awareness on the ball stood out amid a frenetic, hard-fought match.

Manager Derek Adams, while content with the win, seemed stung by what he felt has been negativity towards his team.

"Melvin has been fantastic," Adams said. "The positivity around the place is great and we just hope it feeds off on other people in the area. It was a very good victory, thoroughly deserved. If we were two or three up at the break it would have been fair. Aberdeen got out of the game what they deserved - nothing.

"Up front, Steven Ross was outstanding at times, holding up the ball and taking the Aberdeen defence in behind. Defensively, we were very strong. It's our third clean sheet of the season. I think it's our 11th goal of the season, so I'm delighted with the progress. We're having a great season."

Aberdeen have still to record a win against their neighbours after four attempts in the SPFL, with two draws and two defeats.

With a buoyant travelling support of 2200 in attendance, there was a buzz around the ground - and it proved a lively, if ragged, start.

After 12 minutes, Peter Pawlett left Brian McLean for dead with a tremendous turn of pace into the left side of the box before the danger was cleared by the back-tracking Quinn.

The hosts held threat, too, with Ross carving space for De Leeuw inside the penalty area, only for the Dutchman to hesitate.

The pendulum was swinging slowly in County's favour after the 20-minute mark, with Quinn fluffing a glorious chance, and a sweeping move involving De Leeuw, Ross and Brittain teed up the midfielder inside the box, but his connection was poor.

The frantic pace was hampering quality at times, but there was a pause just after the half-hour as referee Crawford Allan pulled up with a hamstring problem. After a seven-minute delay in play, fourth official David Somers switched positions with Allan.

The best chance of the half then came as Ross showed strength with back to goal, turned to drive on and elude a couple of challenges before his pass found Quinn to the right of the box but the midfielder struck just wide.

Into the second period, a low Graham Carey cross bounced in front of Ross five yards out, square on goal, but the youngster could not connect. County, though, had only to wait a minute for the breakthrough.

De Leeuw's neat turn and diagonal pass freed Quinn, racing through on the right, and he thundered his finish under the crossbar from eight yards.

County went within inches of a second when Carey's tremendous cross from the left was flicked just past the far post by substitute Kevin Luckassen's head.

A flurry of Aberdeen corners heaped pressure on the hosts and stoppage time must have seemed endless for the County support. But the celebrations in the Jail End erupted as the impressive Aberdeen following fell silent and turned on their heels.

"I didn't think we got to the levels we are capable of," said Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes. "There wasn't enough tempo or pace until we went behind. Results like today's suggest there is still work to be done - as if I didn't already know that."