Aberdeen 3
Dundee Utd 0
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Two very preventable goals in the opening 15 minutes sealed United's fate at Pittodrie. Andy McLaren for Ristic was the only change in the Tannadice starting line up from the one fielded against Hibs and Andy McLaren almost drew first blood with a shot on the turn which went narrowly past the near post after three minutes.

The Dons response was to exert a I spell of pressure that was to produce hail of corners. From the fifth of these after only twelve minutes, United were to fall behind in bizarre fashion. Paul Kane's kick was dummied by David Hannah as he ducked under the cross and a surprised Kelham O'Hanlon could only assist the ball on its way into the net.

Two minutes later and another corner brought another goal with the marking at the back falling under grave suspicion! Woodthorpe's corner to the far post found Dodds unmarked and he headed the ball back across the face of the six yard box, allowing Scott Booth to nod home a second. Curiously, the Dons, without a Premier win since the opening day of the season failed to build on this fortuitous start and in the 25th minute, United, but for a fine save by Snetders would have pulled a goal back.

Andy McLaren out-stripped the Dons defence after Brian Welsh had headed the ball forward and his shot on the turn was only prevented from going in by Dons' Dutch keeper at the second attempt. The pattern of the game was unaltered after the break with United having far more of the ball, but Aberdeen still managing to look extremely dangerous on the break. A few minutes into the second period, Kelham O'Hanlon was at full stretch to keep out a McKinnon 20 yarder and not long afterwards, Scott Booth cut inside to fire a dipping shot inches over from the edge of the box.

The introduction of Jim Mclnalty for David Hannah saw United enjoy their most fluent spell of the match, but the loss of a third goal killed off any hopes of a revival. Christian Dailly had just seen his header sneak over with Snelders beaten when McKimmie's curling cross from the right was headed down by Booth to Paul Kane who steadied himself before accurately despatching the ball into the right hand corner from 14 yards.

All credit to United as they battled away well to produce their best chances of the match in the closing stages. Gary Smith cleared a Jerren Nixon header off the line; Christian Dailly was unlucky not to score when he lost his footing after flicking the ball past Snelders and was then appeared to be pushed as he tried to convert an Andy McLaren cross. However, it was all too late and didn't detract from the fact that this was the third game in which United have failed to find the net and this defeat enabled Aberdeen to leap-frog United who are too close to the relegation pack for comfort.

Golac commented, "The first two goals we lost were as bad as I have ever seen and if you can't score it is difficult to win games!"