Aberdeen 2
Dundee Utd 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

United travelled to Pittodrie still smarting from their controversial midweek defeat in Yugoslavia. The only change made from the side that lost out to Radnick Nis in the UEFA Cup quarter finals was Ian Gibson coming in for Iain Phillip. Teenagers Maurice Malpas and John Reilly were handed the two places on the bench.

The first real threat happened in the seventh minute, when Doug Rougvie got his head to a high Stuart Kennedy cross, but Neil Simpson head-flicked the ball wide of goal. Three mintes later Andy Watson tested Hamish McAlpine with a drive from 25 yards, and in the 17th minute United tested Jim Leighton with a half-hit snapshot from Paul Sturrock. McAlpine parried a Simpson effort in the 37th minute, but the keeper could not prevent the Dons taking the lead five minutes later. Shortly after strong Tannadice claims for a penalty had been rejected, Gordon Strachan started the move that ended with Mark McGhee crossing to John Hewitt, who swept the ball into the net to give Aberdeen a half-time lead.

United took only two minutes of the second half to get back on level terms. Alex McLeish failed to clear a bouncing ball in the Aberdeen penalty box and Davie Dodds snapped up the loose ball, wheeled and fired past Leighton. Alex Ferguson moved McLeish into a midfield role, a move which, along with a United side tiring after their midweek exploits, changed the momentum of the game. With Aberdeen regaining the initiative, Kennedy forced his way to the by line and cut the ball back for Alex McLeish to head home the winner with 16 minutes to go. It was poor reward for a hard working United eleven after a tiring week.