Aberdeen 3 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic

Aberdeen recorded a comfortable win this afternoon to keep their European dream alive. Mackie scored from a tight angle in the first half before Nicholson doubled the advantage from the spot after the break. This was the Dons first penalty award of the season following a Simmons handball. Lovell sealed the win late on when he swept a Michael Hart cross into the net. The Dons can now prepare for the visit of Celtic next week in a match they will be looking to extend their winning run.

Aberdeen kicked off but the match was held up almost immediately when Scott Severin picked up a head knock. After the match restarted Lovell was given an early opportunity to score when he was released on the left in the 2nd minute, but his shot never threatened the Dunfermline goal. He did better in the 10th minute when he burst past several defenders before his shot from the edge of the box was blocked. Aberdeen were not having it all their own way at this stage and Langfield had to get down low to save in the 12th minute.

Mackie should have done better two minutes later when his pace took him beyond the last defender but his finish went well wide as he tried to lift the ball over De Vries. There were few goalmouth incidents at this stage but the Dunfermline goal had a lucky escape in the 25th minute when Lovell beat De Vries to a Smith cross. Unfortunately with the ball bouncing around the six-yard box there were no red shirts to take advantage. Aberdeen finally broke down the Pars in the 33rd minute when Mackie set up Clark. Lovell blocked his shot short of the goal line before Mackie followed up and fired the ball into the net from a very tight angle.

Dunfermline tried to hit back quickly and threatened with a teasing free kick five minutes later. They went close again in the 42nd minute when a corner fell to Wilson on the edge of the box and the defender fired it inches over the Dons bar. A minute later Clark could have made it 2-0 when he fired over with only the keeper to beat and Lovell lurking at the far post in the last chance of the first half.

Aberdeen threatened first after the break when De Vries made a fine block from a Severin pile driver. Lovell missed the follow up but he had already been flagged offside. A minute later Hart was short with a pass back to Langfield and the keeper did well to retrieve the situation. Mackie got behind the Pars defence again in the 56th minute but Wilson did well to clear the cross. Aberdeen then won their first penalty of the season in the 57th minute when Simmons handled the ball inside the penalty area. The referee had no hesitation in pointing at the spot and after some histrionics from De Vries Nicholson netted and the keeper earned himself a booking.

Hamilton replaced Crawford for Dunfermline on the hour mark but it was another ex-Don who almost pulled a goal back. A free kick was played into the box and Langfield came for it but was beaten to the ball by McGuire and his header went inches wide. Langfield redeemed himself in the 69th minute when he made a terrific save from a Jim Hamilton volley. The keeper threw himself across the goal and turned the effort round the post. Lee Miller replaced Dan Smith two minutes later as Aberdeen were put on the back foot for the first time in the game. Steve Lovell then sealed the match in the 83rd minute when Hart raced down the right and delivered a perfect cross for the Englishman to sweep the ball past the keeper.

Aberdeen made a late double substitution with Daal and Dempsey replacing Lovell and Clark. Daal and Severin had late chances with Daal's effort going well over and the keeper saving easily from Severin.