First Team
All The Info | Rangers (A)
22nd November 2024
DUNDEE UNITED 1-3 ABERDEEN
6PM SATURDAY 4TH MARCH
CINCH PREMIERSHIP
TANNADICE PARK
Late goals from Ross McCrorie and Marley Watkins sealed three points for Aberdeen in Dundee.
THE TEAMTALK
Jim Goodwin was in the dugout for the first time, naming four changes to the side defeated in Dingwall last weekend.
Mark Birighitti reclaimed his place alongside Scott McMann, Kieran Freeman and Ian Harkes - who had recovered from a hamstring injury.
Jack Newman, Liam Smith, Arnaud Djoum and Kai Fotheringham all featured on the bench.
GUILE AND PURPOSE
It was a first half of dominance from the men in Tangerine - although we didn’t have the goal our first 45 deserved.
With less than two minutes on the clock, Steven Fletcher went agonisingly close to opening the scoring after some slack play from the visitors, but a smart stop from Jay Gorter sent his effort just wide of the post.
From the resultant corner, United appealed for a spot-kick as a header looked to come off of Bojan Miovski’s arm - which in truth was in a natural position and was correctly waved away by the referee.
United continued to probe, this time Aziz Behich was the one who worked room for a cross, but Harkes’ header was well wide of the target.
Chances came thick and fast for Goodwin’s men. On 21 minutes, after a well-worked United move and a large spell of possession, Fletcher met Freeman’s cross but he couldn't glance his header goalwards.
Just four minutes later, Fletcher was denied again, this time through a last-minute block off the line as we searched for an opener.
LIMITING THE THREAT
Guilt-edge chances for the Dons, however, came few and far between.
Ryan Duncan found himself on the edge of a searching ball into the area. His downward header looked like it may have caused a disturbance but McMann was on hand to head clear.
Duncan again had a chance to break the deadlock with a header - this time his effort lacked any real direction or conviction, shooting up into the air for Birighitti to comfortably gather.
ABERDEEN AHEAD
Aberdeen’s first effort on target came just over five minutes into the second half. United looked to roam forwards with Harkes unlucky to lose his footing as he tried to gain control. As Aberdeen countered, the ball was worked to wide Miovski down the right who cut inside and curled a tame effort into the hands of Birighitti.
Just ten minutes after the restart, the hosts opened the scoring through Luis Duk.
Birighitti’s clearance was well won by an Aberdeen defender and sent long - putting pressure on Edwards as he dropped deep. The skipper looked long but his clearance spun off of Duk as he pressed, opening up space in behind for the Aberdeen winger. The Cape Verde international cut inside and finished with a neat back heel after skipping past Mulgrew.
IMPACT OFF THE BENCH
With twenty to play, the Gaffer made two changes as we looked to respond - Harkes and Sibbald making way for Sadat Anaku and Djoum.
Just two minutes later, a clever touch from the Ugandan forward allowed him to swivel inside the box before being cleaned out by MacKenzie - leaving John Beaton no option but to point to the spot.
Keeping his nerve, McGrath stepped up and slotted the ball low into the left corner sending Gorter the wrong way in the process - a leveller which was no less than the men in tangerine deserved.
TWO QUICK HITS
However, with just over ten to play the visitors were back ahead. Layton Clarkson drove inside with some neat footwork and his cutback was slotted home by McCrorie at the back post after missing out a number of United bodies.
Aberdeen’s second came minutes later, substitute Marley Watkins breaking inside the box before curling low into the far corner - just out of reach of Birighitti at full stretch.
NOT TELLING THE STORY
There were plenty of positives to take from what was a result that didn't reflect the run of play.
With a dominant spell of possession and over 24 shots at goal, United will feel hard done by not to come away with anything from the match.
TEAMLINE
Starting XI: Birighitti, McMann, Mulgrew, Fletcher, Edwards, Sibbald (70' Djoum), Behich, McGrath, Levitt, Freeman, Harkes (70' A.Sadat)
Unused subs: Newman, Smith, Graham, Niskanen, Fotheringham, Ayina, MacLeod
NEXT UP
A trip to West Lothian is up next as we take on Livingston on Wednesday night. It's a 7:45 kick-off as we look back to a twice-postponed matchday 17.
