League · Premiership
Dundee Utd0–1Aberdeen
Kenny McLean 82′
Lineups
Dundee Utd
Aberdeen
Dundee Utd · Starting XI
Aberdeen · Starting XI
- Danny Ward
- Paul Quinn
- Andrew Considine
- Ash Taylor
- Shay Logan
- Willo Flood
- Cammy Smith
- Graeme Shinnie
- Jonny Hayes
- Kenny McLean
- Adam Rooney
Dundee Utd · Substitutes
Aberdeen · Substitutes
- Scott Wright
- Ryan Jack
- Scott Brown
- David Goodwillie
- Barry Robson
- Peter Pawlett
- Niall McGinn
Dundee Utd · Substitutions
- Darko Bodul for Mario Bilate46′
- Simon Murray for Charlie Telfer63′
- Rodney Sneijder for John Rankin72′
Aberdeen · Substitutions
- Niall McGinn for Cameron Smith62′
- David Goodwillie for Jonny Hayes68′
- Ryan Jack for Andrew Considine78′
Dundee Utd · Manager
Aberdeen · Manager
- Derek McInnes
Dundee Utd · Cautions
Aberdeen · Cautions
- Andrew Considine43′
Match report
The new season kicked off with Jackie McNamara giving debuts to Luis Zwick, Mark Durnan and Coll Donaldson with Rodney Sneijder, Darko Bodul and Simon Murray left on the bench. For Aberdeen, ex United midfielder, Willo Flood returned as captain, with David Goodwillie dropping to the bench. Keen to get his first touch of the ball, Luis Zwick confidently caught a deep Willo Flood corner early in the match. United looked lively from the start and Chris Erskine moved on to a Bilate flick but his powerful effort was blocked by the Aberdeen defence. United again threatened when Erskine found…Read moreRead less
The new season kicked off with Jackie McNamara giving debuts to Luis Zwick, Mark Durnan and Coll Donaldson with Rodney Sneijder, Darko Bodul and Simon Murray left on the bench. For Aberdeen, ex United midfielder, Willo Flood returned as captain, with David Goodwillie dropping to the bench.
Keen to get his first touch of the ball, Luis Zwick confidently caught a deep Willo Flood corner early in the match. United looked lively from the start and Chris Erskine moved on to a Bilate flick but his powerful effort was blocked by the Aberdeen defence. United again threatened when Erskine found himself in space at the edge of the box and his powerful strike was parried by Ward and cleared by Taylor. Souttar then got in on the action but headed wide of target. The game opened up as the clock edged towards half time and United were almost caught when Smith set up McLean but Durnan did well to clear. Just before the interval, United should have been ahead. Bilate got the break of the ball in the box and with just the 'keeper to beat he struck his effort from 8 yards, off Ward's leg.
United made a change at the start of the second half with new signing Marko Bodul coming on for Mario Bilate. However, United's attacking impedous never looked like exceeding that witnessed in the first half. From a corner, Spittal played a short pass to Dixon and his deflected shot was punched clear by Ward. Seven minutes later Smith controlled the ball on his chest and he turned and volleyed just wide of the United goal. Murray entered the fray to make his debut, taking the place of Charlie Telfer. United then went close to opening the scoring when a Spittal free kick was headed backwards towards goal by Durnan but Ward tipped the ball round the post. Rodney Sneijder was then introduced and almost immediately United nearly broke the deadlock when Coll Donaldson headed over. There was then a nervous moment for the hosts when Zwick failed to handle a cross, the ball fell to Considine who saw his effort cleared off the line by McGowan. However, in the 81st minute Aberdeen took the lead. Goodwillie sent in a left foot cross Kenny McLean stooped to head the ball up and over the helpless Zwick.
Manager's Comment:
“I thought there was a big element of luck with their goal but we should have been tighter in stopping the cross. I don't think we deserved to lose the game. Over the 90 minutes I thought we had the best chances. We didn't get the fortune today. But a lot of decent stuff from us especially the way we went about defending.”
Fan's Comment:
“Looked solid at the back but lacked pace in the front four. While we had energy in the first half we looked threatening but as we tired in the second half we were unable to counter at any real pace and could not get up the park quickly enough to pose any real threat.”
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Captain: Ryan McGowan
Arab Archive 'Man of the Match': Mark Durnan
Match Photos courtesy of Riki Grauer - More photos available at:
Dundee United Official Flickr Page
Keen to get his first touch of the ball, Luis Zwick confidently caught a deep Willo Flood corner early in the match. United looked lively from the start and Chris Erskine moved on to a Bilate flick but his powerful effort was blocked by the Aberdeen defence. United again threatened when Erskine found himself in space at the edge of the box and his powerful strike was parried by Ward and cleared by Taylor. Souttar then got in on the action but headed wide of target. The game opened up as the clock edged towards half time and United were almost caught when Smith set up McLean but Durnan did well to clear. Just before the interval, United should have been ahead. Bilate got the break of the ball in the box and with just the 'keeper to beat he struck his effort from 8 yards, off Ward's leg.
United made a change at the start of the second half with new signing Marko Bodul coming on for Mario Bilate. However, United's attacking impedous never looked like exceeding that witnessed in the first half. From a corner, Spittal played a short pass to Dixon and his deflected shot was punched clear by Ward. Seven minutes later Smith controlled the ball on his chest and he turned and volleyed just wide of the United goal. Murray entered the fray to make his debut, taking the place of Charlie Telfer. United then went close to opening the scoring when a Spittal free kick was headed backwards towards goal by Durnan but Ward tipped the ball round the post. Rodney Sneijder was then introduced and almost immediately United nearly broke the deadlock when Coll Donaldson headed over. There was then a nervous moment for the hosts when Zwick failed to handle a cross, the ball fell to Considine who saw his effort cleared off the line by McGowan. However, in the 81st minute Aberdeen took the lead. Goodwillie sent in a left foot cross Kenny McLean stooped to head the ball up and over the helpless Zwick.
Manager's Comment:
“I thought there was a big element of luck with their goal but we should have been tighter in stopping the cross. I don't think we deserved to lose the game. Over the 90 minutes I thought we had the best chances. We didn't get the fortune today. But a lot of decent stuff from us especially the way we went about defending.”
Fan's Comment:
“Looked solid at the back but lacked pace in the front four. While we had energy in the first half we looked threatening but as we tired in the second half we were unable to counter at any real pace and could not get up the park quickly enough to pose any real threat.”
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Captain: Ryan McGowan
Arab Archive 'Man of the Match': Mark Durnan
Match Photos courtesy of Riki Grauer - More photos available at:
Dundee United Official Flickr Page