Dundee Utd 3
Aberdeen 1
League (SPL)

Match Report

United secured an impressive fifth home league win under Craig Levein as a superb late showing saw the hosts come from behind to defeat 10 man Aberdeen.

Craig Levein named an unchanged starting eleven following the Boxing Day draw away at Celtic. Christian Kalvenes was still missing therefore Stuart Duff continued to deputise at left back while Lee Mair was deployed on the right of a defensive back four. This was also the last opportunity for short term signing Grant Smith to impress before a decision would be made on his future. The visitors were without Captain Russell Anderson, who was still missing after suffering from a flu bug. Zander Diamond took his place in the centre of defence and the other change for Aberdeen saw Gary Dempsey come into midfield in place of Barry Nicholson, a scorer in their 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock. A healthy crowd inside Tannadice awaited a mouth watering clash between two of the form sides in the SPL.

Inside 2 minutes the tangerines had the first opportunity of the match. Barry Robson cut in from the right and sent in a swinging cross to the back post which was met by Craig Conway, but his header was wide of the target from a good position at the edge of the 6 yard box. With United starting to pressurise, Samuel this time broke clear of the visiting defence, and as he bore down on goal he tumbled under a challenge from Andrew Considine. Despite loud appeals by the United support no penalty was awarded and play continued. Scott Severin made Stillie work hard with a powerful left foot drive from distance, with the terrors keeper making a fine save to limit the damage to only the resulting corner. With just over a quarter of the game gone Aberdeen came closest opening the scoring. First Stillie had to react quickly to turn a Chris Clark cross out of the path of Lee Miller, before pulling off a superb reaction save to deny Miller from close range after McGuire had sent the ball back in from the left. Remarkably, Stillie pulled off an even better save a minute later as the visitors came as near as possible to taking the lead. Gary Dempsey curled in a superb free kick from 25 yards, and with the ball seeming net bound, the United keeper touched the ball onto the underside off the bar. There were appeals from the Dons that the ball had crossed the line on its way down but thankfully for the hosts referee John Underhill and his assistant didn’t share this viewpoint and the game remained goalless. After weathering a strong period of Aberdeen pressure United hit back and Robson again went in search of a United goal, first he turned a defender at the edge of the area and sent in a left foot curler which just evaded the left post, then he resisted the challenge of several Aberdeen defenders before his low right foot shot was gathered safely by Langfield. Despite more pressure from either side, the first half of an excellent match ended goalless.

In 56 minutes United suffered the loss of the opening goal after Kenneth had fouled Lovell on the left side conceding a free kick in a dangerous area. Dempsey swung the ball into the penalty box and it found its way through to Scott Severin at the back post, who slid the ball home from close range. It was now all about how United would react and thankfully in 61 minutes the United fans hopes were answered as Samuel levelled the game. Robson was given an opportunity to send a set piece in from the right after Robertson had been fouled and the captains left foot delivery was perfect for Samuel to rise up and meet with his head to plant the ball into the back of the net. United’s chances were raised further with 65 minutes gone when Aberdeen were reduced to 10 men as defender Michael Hart received his second yellow after clattering Conway as he ran onto a Robson pass down the wing. With United understandably on top as the half wore on having the one man advantage, they were rightly awarded a penalty kick with 10 minutes remaining. Sub Goodwillie cut the ball back from the goal line and as Robertson ran towards the ball he was pulled down by Langfield as he came out of goal. Robson took the kick and to the delight of the tangerine army behind the goal sent Langfield the wrong way to give United a 2-1 advantage. United were then in dreamland on 90 minutes as Collin Samuel rounded off a fine afternoon by cutting inside 2 defenders and calmly slotting left footed into the bottom corner before wheeling away to take the acclaim of his team mates.