Dundee 1 - 2 Aberdeen

We saw both sides of the Dons at Dens Park as a 1-2 scoreline translated into 12 wins out of 12. Aberdeen played with real swagger for the first 45 minutes before digging in and defending brilliantly after the break to see themselves through to another maximum points haul and a berth at the top of the table.

Following the 4-0 win over The Spartans in the League Cup last Saturday, there were two changes for Aberdeen. Ante Palaversa started from the bench while Pape Guèye missed out with injury. In came Graeme Shinnie and Topi Keskinen, while Duk returned on the bench, as did Peter Ambrose, with James McGarry missing out.

Dundee were beaten 3-0 at Ibrox in the League Cup quarter-final last weekend and made three changes with Jon McCracken returning in goal, along with Ethan Ingram and Clark Robertson. Trevor Carson, Oluwaseun Adewumi start from the bench with Jordan McGhee out of the matchday squad.

The afternoon began with a minute of applause in memory of former Dundee man Fabián Caballerowho passed away earlier this week.

It was a high octane, end to end start, Cameron taking the first shot at goal, the ball flying over from a tight angle in the sixth minute. For all the energy, and tough tackling, on show, neither side was able to create a clear opening early on.

The first one came in the 15th minute and when it did, the Dons took full advantage of it. A long ball out from the back caught Koumetio napping and after he failed to deal with it, Keskinen’s pace got him in the clear. Looking up as he got into the box, he picked out the run of Kevin Nisbet and the number nine swept his shot into the bottom corner from 16 yards out.

Dundee reacted quickly, Koumetiou’s flick-on from a corner reaching Portales, but his header was no problem for Dimitar Mitov. It was more difficult for him on 25 as Mitov came to collect a free-kick to the back post, the ball eventually scrambled away as he collided with Jamie McGrath on the way down and the ball ran loose.

The Dons doubled the lead on 32 minutes, ironically stemming from some untidy play in midfield. Shinnie took charge of things in the end and played the archetypal slide rule pass into the run of Keskinen. Again his pace outstripped the defence, and with Nisbet running alongside him, as he reached the box, he took on the responsibility himself and thumped a low shot past the flailing leg of McCracken.

Mitov had to produce a terrific save away to his left to preserve the 2-0 lead after 39 minutes. Cameron caught his shot nicely from 20 yards and with Slobodan Rubezic between him and the Dundee man, Mitov must have seen it late before pawing the ball away at full stretch.

A long ball caused confusion for Aberdeen at the back on 43 minutes. After miscommunication between himself and Rubezic, Gavin Molloy tried to head the ball back towards his goalkeeper but didn’t get enough on it as he stretched. As the ball looped into the area, in trying to win it back, Molloy clipped Murray, conceded a penalty and collected a yellow card. Murray stepped up to take, sent Mitov the wrong way and rolled the ball into the net to get his side back into the game.

HALF-TIME: DUNDEE 1 ABERDEEN 2

Mulligan came on for Dundee at the break, Sylla staying in the dressing room. The hosts started quickly, Mitov having to tip a Robertson header over the bar from a corner in the opening minute. Keskinen was booked on 51 minutes, cutting out a Dundee counter-attack on halfway, before Nisbet headed over from a Jack MacKenzie cross a minute later.

Tiffoney was inches away from levelling things up on 58 minutes from a lightning counter-attack. McCracken collected a Dons corner and launched the ball forward for Tiffoney to run onto.

Trying to arrow his shot across goal and into the far corner, he was only denied by a fingertip save from Mitov that pushed it just wide, another quite superb save.

With Dundee pressing for the equaliser and the Dons pinned back and struggling to get out of their own half, there was a change on 66 minutes as Palaversa replaced Jamie McGrath. The change in formation allowed Shinnie to get further forward and the captain led by example in the final 20 minutes. Graeme was outstanding.

There was some stout defending required from Aberdeen as Dundee kept them penned in but Mitov was well protected.

Dundee looked to find the breakthrough with a triple change on 79 minutes with Main, Fraser and Adewumi coming on, Braybrook, Murray and Larkeche replaced. A corner straight afterwards was caught by Mitov who immediately went down for treatment before continuing. Aberdeen responded as Nisbet made way for Ambrose on 82.

Cameron came close on 86, drilling in a s hot that was blocked by Rubezic as the home side continued to press. Vicente Besuijen and Shayden Morris were the Dons’ final changes on 87 minutes, Clarkson and Keskinen making way, while Ingram was replaced by Vetro for Dundee. He was quickly in the action, denied a crossing opportunity by another fine block from Nicky Devlin, who had a brilliant game today.

Going into the final minute, a ball into the near post allowed Main to get a clever flick towards goal, Mitov doing well to smother the ball and keep Dundee at bay. Two minutes later, Fraser got space for himself on the left and arrowed a cross into Koumetio who headed the ball over the bar. Mitov was then carded for time wasting.

Besuijen might have sealed it as Ambrose burst away down the right, played to Morris and then on to Besuijen, but his shot flew wide. It didn’t matter. Seconds later, it was 12 out of 12.

4 minutes added at end 1st half.
3+1 minutes added at end 2nd half.