Dundee United 1 - 1 Aberdeen

Aberdeen conceded their first goal of the season, but it took a spot kick to beat Preece as the Dons ended the match with ten men and a battling point. The day started so well for the visitors when Darren Mackie opened the scoring seven minutes into his season debut. United then battled hard to get level as Aberdeen threatened on the break. With seven minutes remaining Anderson brought down Samuel and Wilson converted the spot kick. The Dons were then reduced to ten men when Anderson was stretchered off after all the substitutes had been used. The ten men held on to earn a hard fought point.

Dundee United made a positive start to the match putting the Aberdeen defence under pressure in the opening minute of the match as they tested the Dons unfamiliar 3-5-2 system, which included Severin in the back three. The home defence easily cleared a Dons free kick in the 3rd minute as both sides settled into the match. United won the first corner of the match after six minutes but the ball was quickly cleared to Adams. There was a hint of handball but with nothing given he released Mackie and he shrugged off the attentions of Kerr before beating Bullock to give the Dons a sensational start.

United tried to hit back immediately and in the 9th minute Preece gathered a free kick and released the Dons quickly again leading to their opening corner. The Dons were unable to capitalise and the home side surged forward creating two chances for Robson. In the first Hart managed to steer the ball back to Preece, but a minute later the United man screwed the ball wide with the goal at his mercy. McNaughton broke well in the 14th minute but couldn't find Craig in the centre forcing the striker wide.

There was a flair up in the 16th minute as Mackie and Innes clashed but the referee settled for a quiet word. The Dons went close in the 20th minute when Mackie released Craig and he was adjudged offside in a very tight decision. The home side had settled again after the early setback and were starting to bring the game to Aberdeen again. The Dons then received a setback in the 24th minute when Adams limped off to be replaced by Tosh. Two minutes later Craig won a free kick but the attack ended as McNaughton was penalised.

Robson was causing problems for the Dons but after good play he had little support and Preece gathered easily. A minute later Tosh saw Bullock off his line and attempted a long-range effort, which went well wide. There was another call for handball in the 31st minute as this time Craig broke. His shot was deflected wide for the corner and Bullock was forced to gather from the set play. Two minutes later Aberdeen turned up the pressure as Hart was released from a quick free kick and Craig just failed to get on the end of the cross before the ball was scrambled clear for a corner.

A mistake from Anderson almost invited an equaliser in the 35th minute but McIntyre couldn't capitalise as Severin cleared for a corner. Preece had to punch Robson's corner clear and then pulled off a magnificent save seconds later to deny the home side. Seconds later Grady was lucky to escape a yellow card after a bad challenge on Severin. With four minutes remaining the Dons won a free kick in a dangerous position but Tosh had a pop and drove the ball well over. Just on half time Heikkinen was presented with a chance but hit a poor effort well wide.

Robson had an effort blocked in the opening minute before Preece gathered as the home side made a lively start to the second period. It was Diamond who had to tidy up in the 50th minute as Robson threatened again before Hart calmly played the ball out of defence to allow Tosh to set up Mackie with a chance, which was stopped by the quick thinking Bullock. Hart did well in the 58th minute as he beat Robson at the corner flag but his cross was straight into the hands of Bullock.

Aberdeen had a three on two break in the 62nd minute but McGuire delayed allowing the home defence to get back. Aberdeen should have grabbed a second a minute later when a Craig header fell to the feet of McNaughton six yards out and he somehow failed to convert the chance after great build up play. In the 65th minute Aberdeen managed to scramble the ball clear after a mistake from Severin and seconds later Robson headed over when he had a great chance to level.

McLaren then replaced Dodds and a minute later he produced a telling cross that was headed wide of the target. United continued to press for an equaliser and Preece was forced to tip a wayward cross over the bar before the Dons were forced to defend two quick corners. In the 74th minute Preece was again in action as he juggled a Robson effort before holding the ball. Aberdeen then went close a minute later when Anderson released a long ball to Mackie but he was unable to finish the move as Bullock came out. McInnes and Craig had a flair up again but once again Dougal calmed the situation.

Jimmy Calderwood then drafted in John Stewart for the goal hero Darren Mackie as Aberdeen freshened the attack. Then in the 81st minute Foster replaced Craig who had been booked minutes earlier. Foster then had a chance within seconds of coming on, but Bullock was out quickly to deny him. Then disaster, as United were awarded a spot kick when Diamond was adjudged to have downed Samuel and Wilson fired the ball home to make Preece pick the ball out of the net for the first time this season. A minute later Severin scrambled the ball clear and then Aberdeen spurned another chance before the game exploded when Tosh kicked the ball out in frustration and it went close to the United bench.

Tosh was clearly frustrated that the ball had not been knocked out by either side with Diamond down injured. The incident earned Tosh a booking and Diamond was stretchered off the park with all three substitutes used. After the restart ten man Aberdeen sent Foster forward but there were no takers to convert the chance. The Dons held on for a deserved point but concerns over Diamond marred another battling performance.