Hamilton 1 - 0 Aberdeen

Derek McInnes was forced to make one change with Jonny Hayes being ruled out for 10-12 days with a hamstring strain. Ryan Christie came into the starting XI and Connor McLennan joined the bench.

The game kicked off in good conditions in front of a sizable Aberdeen support.

The Dons were very keen to avoid a repeat of what happened last time the sides met at this venue and they started at a good tempo. In the third minute McGinn cut in off the left and floated over a good cross which was not far away from Rooney.

A minute later the visitors forced the first corner of the night and a second followed shortly after but Hamilton comfortably cleared both. Logan then put a ball into the area which was just a little too long for McLean who had made a good run. Rooney then put over a deep cross but there was no one there.

On 8 minutes, Hamilton with what seemed like their first touch of the ball, took the lead. Christie gave away a free kick which was played into the area and Mikey Devlin got in front of Taylor and flicked the ball into the net past Lewis.

After 11 minutes Rooney won a third corner and McGinn a fourth which again were cleared. Then a McLean flick-on sent Rooney clear but his first-time shot went wide of the post. The striker was getting closed down quickly but will be disappointed he never hit the target. On 15 minutes McLean, who was playing in an advanced role, won a free kick after some neat skill. His ball in though from a promising position was headed clear.

On 18 minutes a nice run from Christie down the right led to another corner. This time Rooney got to the ball ahead of a Hamilton marker but his volleyed effort was steered just wide. Adam went even closer a minute later when he his header from a McGinn cross beat the keeper but bounced off the far post and frustratingly Christie was unable to get the rebound.

It was all Aberdeen but they could not force the ball home. On 25 minutes Christie lifted a perfectly weighted pass for Shinnie who laid it off for McGinn but his first time shot just went wide. Two minutes later McLean won a free kick 25 yards out. McGinn took it and curled his effort onto the roof of the net. On the half hour mark Rooney won yet another corner but Taylor could do nothing with a header.

On 33 minutes a nice passing move led to McLean playing McGinn in and on first viewing it appeared that Niall was taken down as he was about the shoot. The ball then fell for Rooney but his lost his footing at the vital moment and the chance was lost. A minute later a McGinn cross from the left looked like it would finally lead to a goal but the outstretched Rooney could not get a touch as the ball fizzed across the goal line.

Shinnie then ran in on goal after a great run down the left but his driven cross was cut out at the front post before Rooney missed another half chance and then he almost intercepted a loose pass back.

On 39 minutes a deep free kick from Logan was knocked down and Taylor hammered a shot just over the bar. Before half time Aberdeen forced another three corners - nine in total for the half - the last of which led to a goalmouth scramble but twice Hamilton made blocks inside the six yard box.

Incredibly Aberdeen went in at the interval a goal down despite completely dominating the first forty five minutes.

HT Hamilton Accies 0 Aberdeen 1

At half time Mark Reynolds was replaced by Peter Pawlett. There were nervous moments a minute in when McGinn was adjudged to have committed a foul. It allowed Redmond the chance to whip in another free kick but this time Lewis took a comfortable catch.

With Hamilton enjoying some possession the Dons were able to break on 48 minutes. McLean played it wide to Shinnie who in turn found McGinn and his dinked cross found McLean worked an opening but his shot was saved by Gary Woods. McLean had a chance to break again a minute later but spotted the keeper off his line and tried a shot from the half way line which was not off target by much. McLean then had another chance when he beat two players inside the area but his right footed shot went over.

Ioannis Skondras was booked for time wasting on 52 minutes. On 54 minutes McGinn comfortably the Hamilton left back but his cross was deflected into the arms of Woods at his near post. Aberdeen then won three more corners in succession but still the Hamiton defence held firm. Michael Devlin was outstanding at the back.

On the hour mark McLean and Shinnie combined well before they won yet another corner. Taylor directed a header goalward but the whistle had gone for a foul. On 61 minutes Accies brought Docherty and Crawford on. The Dons had to beware of their pace on the break.

On 63 minutes a McLean cross was knocked down by Logan and the right looked to have scored but the ball was somehow deflected onto the roof of the net.

Still the Dons could not get the ball over the line despite being camped outside the Hamilton box.

With just over twenty minutes to go Ryan Christie was replaced by Miles Storey. Graeme was then booked for a foul on Skondras. With fifteen minutes to go McLean swung in a cross which saw Rooney get in between the two centre halfs but his faint touch was just not quite enough.

With ten minutes remaining Aberdeen finally had the ball in the net when Pawlett's shot fell into the path of Storey but the striker was offside.

Aberdeen had another spell of intense pressure and two yellow cards in quick succession for Darian MacKinnon led to a red card. Worrying with three minutes left Ryan Jack picked up an injury and had to be replaced by O'Connor.

Taylor was thrown forward in the final few minutes but the Dons had by now lost their way and Accies comfortably dealt with the high ball that came their way, even when Lewis came up for two late corners.

A very frustrating night for The Dons.