Aberdeen 3
Dundee Utd 1
League (SPL)

Match Report

United went down to another disappointing defeat losing 3-1 to Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Darren Mackie had the Dons ahead at half time and they extended their lead further through Barry Nicholson at the start of the second period. Barry Robson handed United a lifeline with a well taken penalty only for Nicholson to score again and hand the home side all three points.

There was one change to the United starting eleven that lost to Celtic with Lee Mair returning after a two-month absence coming in for Stuart Duff. Aberdeen brought back Jamie Smith and Russell Anderson with Diamond and Considine missing out.

Most of the play in the first half was dictated by Aberdeen but the United defence seemed to be contending with all that was thrown at them and really limited their opponents to long range efforts. It was United who created the best chance of the half after 35 minutes when Barry Robson picked out David Proctor who bulleted in a header from six yards out only for Langfield to pull off a first class one-handed save to thwart the former Inverness man. Almost immediately United fell behind when Stillie spilled a Nicholson shot and Darren Mackie was first to pounce and he stroked the ball into an empty net.

It was much the same in the second period and United were caught out straight away when Nicholson’s 46th minute free kick managed to beat everyone, including Derek Stillie and floated into the top corner of the net. By the time the game reached the hour mark United had used all three substitutes and it was one of these men, Craig Conway, who won United a penalty kick. Skipper Barry Robson stepped up and drilled the ball home to give United some hope. Unbelievably Aberdeen went straight up the park and restored their two-goal advantage when Nicholson scored his second of the afternoon, heading home a Foster cross. The game was played out with no further counters although the score could have been worse for United when Maguire slotted home but he was correctly ruled offside.