Dundee Utd0–2Aberdeen

The effects of the mid-week marathon Cup tie with Dundee certainly appeared to take its toll. Aberdeen took control at the start and got the additional boost of an early goal. Bett sent over across from the left and Alan Main punched it away only for Charlie Nicholas to head back into the net. We immediately hit back and Jim Leighton had to look lively to collect a Kevin Gallacher shot which had taken a deflection off Willie Miller. After half an hour we began to make some impact on Aberdeen. Ian Redford shot over but there was an even nearer thing at the other end before half-time. Davie Dodds picked up a stray JIm McInally pass, but Alan Main somehow managed to tip his chip over the bar.

We started the second half much better than the first, putting pressure on the Dons defence. Mixu Paatelainen, who'd replaced Gary McGinnis, saw Leighton save his shot almost immediately. After he came on the Finn was then involved in the minute's action which was to decide the issue in Aberdeen's favour. Eamonn Bannon embarked on a run down the left, leaving a trail of defenders in his wake and sent over a cross, which Mixu headed goalwards. Jim Leighton somehow managed to get his fingers to the ball and tip it on to the post. Relieved at this let-off, Aberdeen promptly surged upfield to score a killer goal. Neil Simpson crossed or Davie Dodds to flick the ball to Tom Jones who tucked the ball past Alan Main. There was no way back from that but Jim Leighton was lucky to record his 24th shut out when lain Ferguson, in the clear, was foiled by Willie Miller who was back to mop up the danger.