Aberdeen 0 - 2 Hamilton

McInnes made two changes to his side with Scott McKenna returning to the starting back four after serving his three-match suspension. Mikey Devlin dropped to the bench. Gary-Mackay Steven dropped out of the squad and was replaced by Niall McGinn on the left-hand side.

The Dons came into the game in positive spirits, hoping to build on their 2-0 victory over St Johnstone in Perth at the weekend. Hamilton Academical had a contrasting weekend and were looking to quickly bounce back from their 5-0 thrashing at home to Rangers on Sunday. 

Aberdeen took a while to settle into the game and surprisingly it was Hamilton who looked the better of the two teams in the opening 15 minutes. Andy Considine picked up an early booking after a professional foul on the halfway line. 

Shinnie had the first real chance of the game on the counter-attack for The Dons. From an Accies free kick that was easily cleared Ferguson did well to advance forward and pick out McGinn who made a bursting run down the left-hand side. McGinn showed his composure to find McLennan who laid it off to the Aberdeen captain. Unfortunately, Shinnie could not add to his brace he scored at the weekend, his shot lacking the conviction to beat Hamilton keeper Woods from close range.

The Dons growing injury listed added another number after Max Lowe was forced off following a knock, Mikey Devlin slotted into central defence to replace him with Considine moving across to left-back. 

Joe Lewis was forced into bailing out his defence with a brilliant point-blank save on twenty minutes. The Dons failed to deal with a simple ball over the top and Miller managed to get in behind. The striker cut back inside onto his left foot and pulled the trigger. Thankfully, big Joe was out quickly to cut down the angle to deny the forward. 

The Dons responded well and were unlucky not to take the lead just after the half-hour mark. Again, McGinn was causing problems down the left and picked out Greg Stewart in the penalty area with a clipped cross. Stewart did everything right, glancing his header towards the far post but unfortunately for The Dons the ball cannoned back off the post and away to safety. 

But it was the visitors who took the lead in extraordinary style. From the byline, George Oakley tried his luck on the half volley. His audacious effort sailed over Joe Lewis and dipped into the far corner in off the post to give Hamilton the lead.

The goal certainly gave The Dons a wake-up call and forced them into action. Considine had a header straight at Woods saved before Ferguson squandered a free-kick from a promising position which he hit straight into the wall. Cosgrove nearly levelled on the stroke of half-time, the big striker got his head on the end of McLennan?s cross but Woods stuck out a strong left hand to deny Cosgrove and tip it round the post for a corner. The resulting set-piece again ended up at Cosgrove but this time he blazed his effort well wide on the half volley.

Both teams came out unchanged for the second half ? The Dons knowing that a much better performance would be required if they were going to take anything from the game.

Aberdeen?s top goalscorer Sam Cosgrove looked the most likely to provide the equaliser. The striker had an effort cleared off the line after McGinn delicately touched it back into his path. 

Shinnie was the next to go close for The Dons. The captain made a positive forward run from midfield, splitting the Hamilton centre backs. Stewart spotted the run and expertly picked him out. Shinnie got to it first and got a toe on it before the keeper but the ball didn?t dip in time and sailed agonisingly over the bar. 

Stewart was coming into the game more in the second half and he caused chaos with a dangerous ball into the area. After a couple of ricochets, the ball fell to Dom Ball who swivelled and hit a half-volley on the turn. The ball was always rising and clipped the top of Woods bar on its way over ? another great chance for the home side. 

It was beginning to look like one of those nights for The Dons, and the night went from bad to worse when Hamilton doubled their advantage through Miller. The Aberdeen defence failed to clear their lines and were made to pay when the visitors found Miller in the area and he smartly converted first time. 

The Dons were throwing everyone forward in search for a way back into the game. With twenty minutes left to play, Considine passed up a golden opportunity. McGinn twisted and turned down the left-hand side and put in an inviting ball between the penalty spot and six-yard box. Considine was there but completely misjudged his header and failed to make a connection. 

The Dons huffed and puffed but seemed rushed, lacking real quality in the final third. Stevie May was thrown on up top for Dom Ball to try and disrupt the Accies back four. Meanwhile, the visitors were doing everything to slow the game down which prevented Aberdeen from gaining any momentum or pressure. 

Into the final ten minutes and it was McLennan who fluffed his lines at the vital moment in an attempt to pull one back for Aberdeen. Now on the left-hand side, the winger did brilliantly to beat two men, cut inside and get himself a clear sighting at goal. But he snatched at the chance and blazed his effort well wide, effectively summing up Aberdeen?s night.

Four minutes of added time were signalled but The Dons couldn?t make their dominant possession count and fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat.