Aberdeen 1 - 0 Dundee United

The Dons were tested to the limit by a well organised Dundee United side but the Aberdeen juggernaut rumbles on to 25 games unbeaten, three more points banked courtesy of Peter Ambrose’s first league goal for the Dons two minutes after coming on, another Jimmy Thelin masterclass in the art of making substitutions.

There were three changes to the Aberdeen side that drew 2-2 at Celtic Park last Saturday with Ante Palaversa, Ester Sokler and Duk coming into the starting XI. Graeme Shinnie and Leighton Clarkson were on the bench, Kevin Nisbet missing out through injury. Nicky Devlin took on the captaincy and James McGarry was among the substitutes.

Dundee United beat Hibernian 3-2 with two goals in added time last Saturday and they made one change with Kristijan Trapanovski replacing Miller Thomson.

The Dons made an energetic opening to the game but with the visitors keeping a good defensive shape and defending in depth, space was very much at a premium and there were few openings for Aberdeen to exploit. Jack MacKenzie and Jamie McGrath combined well after 15 minutes, but McGrath’s deep cross drifted just over the bar.

A long ball forward was well controlled on the edge of the box by Topi Keskinen on 24 minutes but as he looked to get off a shot, Holt came across with a beautifully judged tackle to clear the danger on 25 minutes. Adegboyega did likewise five minutes later after a brilliant pass forward from Devlin looked to set the Finn away.

Palaversa was booked on 31 minutes for clipping Middleton’s heels around the halfway line. Palaversa was in the thick of it again on 33 minutes, pouncing on a half cleared cross to fire wide of goal from 25 yards out. 

HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 DUNDEE UNITED 0

The Dons brought on Shayden Morris for Keskinen at the start of the second half in an effort to break the stalemate. He was straight into the action, shimmying past Ferry and drilling a low cross through the six yard box, Walton getting a vital touch to divert it to safety.

McGrath very nearly had Walton beaten on 50, his low drive spilled by the goalkeeper but it just crept wide of the goal as the Dons began to really threaten for the first time. Trapanovski was replaced by Thomson for the visiting side three minutes later. 

Aberdeen were very much on the front foot now and Sokler picked up the ball just outside the box in the 55th minute and found Duk to his right, but his shot from a tight angle was beaten away at the near post. 

A surging run through the box from Duk on 57 almost created space but when the ball was helped on to Devlin, his effort was blocked wide as United brought everyone back behind the ball. Adegboyega was replaced by Odada for United after 62 minutes. Almost immediately, a Ferry free-kick from deep on the left found Holt unmarked but he put his header wide of goal. Shinnie replaced Palaversa in the 65th minute as the rain teemed down. 

Babunski was in the book on 70 minutes for a trip on Shinnie on halfway. From the free-kick, Aberdeen looked to have scored, the ball worked out to Morris on the right. His cross looped up off a defender for Sokler, and it looked as if his header was about to nestle in the net, only for Walton to somehow claw the ball to safety when it looked as if it was already past him. 

There was a more straightforward low save from Duk’s shot from distance in the 73rd minute before Sokler made way for Clarkson a minute later. Van der Sande and Strain replaced Dalby and Babunski at the same time.

The Dons kept powering forward in the monsoon, Morris putting in another teasing cross on 77, Strain miskicking his clearance completely, but the ball squirted away to safety. Ferry was then booked for a cynical chop on Morris as Aberdeen looked to break after brief United pressure. Sevelj did likewise in the 82nd minute and was also carded. Aberdeen used the break in play to bring on Peter Ambrose and Vicente Besuijen for McGrath and Duk. 

The change worked like a dream because within two minutes, Ambrose had his first league goal for the Dons. A deep cross from Gavin Molloy was forced back across goal by Devlin at the back post and, three yards out, Ambrose was all alone to jab the ball into the net. 

Besuijen nearly got in on the act too after 88 minutes. Exchanging passes with Sivert Heltne Nilsen on the edge of the box, he wrapped his right foot around a sumptuous curling shot that beat Walton but ended up just a fraction wide of the far post.

Three minutes into added time, the Dons were still powering forward, Morris setting Ambrose on the chase with another precise through ball, Ambrose dragged to the floor in the box. The referee pointed to the penalty spot but after a lengthy check, it was chalked off for an offside call. 

That gave United one last chance to pile forward and in the 98th minute, the ball found Ferry with a great opportunity, but from 12 yards out, he ballooned it over the bar, into the crowd, and the points were safe. 

1 minute added at end 1st half.
4 minutes added at end 2nd half.