Aberdeen 2 - 2 Dundee United

Aberdeen and Dundee United played out an entertaining contest and took a share of the spoils- although in truth this was a game the Dons should have probably won. A Scott Vernon goal on 11 minutes gave them the lead but that was cancelled out by Gavin Gunning ten minutes later. On 34 minutes, Jamie Langfield allowed a Johnny Russell cross to travel under him and into the net before Niall McGinn was the hero again on 54 minutes when he scored a superb free kick.

The Dons made 1 change to the side that played superbly in the previous match at Dens. Ryan Fraser started in place of the injured Andrew Considine. The Dons lined up- Langfield, Shaughnessy, Anderson, Reynolds, Robertson, Hayes, Vernon, Rae, Smith Fraser & McGinn.

Aberdeen stated really brightly and won their first corner kick on 4 minutes. Hayes took the kick and played a superb ball in to the box which Russell Anderson got a head to but he sent the ball over the cross bar.

On 8 minutes Niall McGinn sent in a dangerous cross but unfortunately for the home side it evaded everyone and United cleared. The Dons weren't to be denied though and four minutes later they took the lead after fantastic build up play. Excellent play by Cammy Smith found Ryan Fraser who pulled the ball back for Scott Vernon to slot home the opening goal. It was Scott's first goal for a while and well deserved after some hard working performances in midfield recently.

Cheered on by a decent support inside Pittodrie, the Dons continued to pressurise United who looked weak defensively despite the tall presence of stand in defender Jon Daly. McGinn nearly took advantage of poor play by United debutant, Souttar when he won the ball in midfield and drove into the box. He unleashed a shot which crashed off the cross bar, Ryan Fraser couldn't connect properly with the rebound and the visitors cleared for a corner.

Then against the run of play United got themselves back into the game. What looked like a pretty innocuous clash of heads between Russell Anderson and John Rankin was punished by referee Alan Muir and Barry Douglas took the resultant free kick. The delivery was good and after Gavin Rae cleared off the line once the ball fell to Gavin Gunning to head the visitor's level.

The Dons responded well though and Cammy Smith, who had another great game, picked the ball up and drifted past a couple of defenders before crossing dangerously into the box. The cross was deflected away for a corner but it was United who broke at pace up field and Langfield had to make a good save after Russell shot powerfully towards goal. On the half hour the visitors could have taken the lead when slack play from Mark Reynolds allowed Russell in again on goal but he shot wildly over the bar.

United weren't to be denied for much longer though. Russell's cross into the box was missed by Douglas and fell to Langfield but he inexplicably allowed the ball to travel under him and it ended up in the goal to put the visitors in front on 34 minutes.

Again though the Dons responded to the set back well and continued to attack with some vigour. Referee Muir waived away appeals for a foul on Vernon by Daly in the box on 41 minutes before Clark Robertson unleashed a magnificent shot from 20 yards that stung the palms of Czerniak and Niall McGinn had a shot at goal just before the break but didn't score as the Dons went in at the break undeservedly 2 goals to 1 down.

HT 1-2

The second half started at a blistering pace and there was relief around Pittodrie when Joe Shaughnessy's mishit clearance crashed off the bar rather than into his own net. Aberdeen applied some pressure of their own and Jon Daly fouled McGinn on 53 minutes resulting in a free kick for the home side. McGinn stepped up to take the kick and curled it spectacularly into the back of the net leaving Czerniak stranded. It was the Northern Irishman's 15^th goal of the season for the Dons!

Having got themselves back into the game it was important that the Dons didn't lose concentration and Jamie Langfield made a great save from Stuart Armstrong just moments after the equaliser. Scott Vernon shot wide of the United goal on the hour mark as the game became more stretched. Johnny Hayes was booked by referee Muir a minute later for a tackle on Armstrong. From the resultant free kick United won a corner and when Douglas floated the ball in Gavin Gunning went down in the box and immediately appealed in vain for a foul.

McGinn attempted to double his tally for the afternoon on 65 minutes but on that occasion Czerniack held the ball well. Aberdeen continued to pass the ball about well but were caught offside on several occasions in a short period. They did stay on side though when a long ball from Langfield eventually found its way via McGinn to Fraser who played it towards Cammy Smith. Unfortunately for the Dons his touch was a little too heavy and the ball skipped away from him and United cleared.

Stephen Hughes then replaced Ryan Fraser for the Dons and seconds later they could have taken the lead. Johnny Hayes sent in a magnificent ball and Russell Anderson headed just wide of the left hand post. Cammy Smith was next to have an effort as the home side continued to dominate play and push for a winner but the youngsters low drive was saved to his right by Czerniak.

As time ran out Craig Brown made a second change- Rob Milsom making his comeback from injury, replacing Cammy Smith. The Dons had one final chance in injury time when a long ball from Shaughnessy landed for McGinn but he shot well over the bar as this entertaining game drew to a close.