Aberdeen 2 - 0 Dundee United

There was just one change for Stephen Glass from the side that came through against BK Häcken on Thursday night, Jack MacKenzie coming into the side in place of the injured Ryan Hedges.

Dundee United beat East Fife 1-0 in their League Cup game on July 20th and they made three changes from that side, Mark Reynolds, Lewis Shankland and Jamie Robson in at the expense of Kieran Freeman, Jeando Fuchs and Flynn Duffy, the first two dropping to the bench.

There was a bright start from the Dons, patient build-up giving Jay Emmanuel-Thomas chance to fire a second minute shot at goal from just outside the box, the ball dragged just wide.

Christian Ramirez was next to threaten on six minutes, Mulgrew misheading a long ball forward from Scott Brown and the American pouncing, only for his shot to be deflected wide by Mulgrew. From the resulting corner, Brown volleyed over.

The visitors were flying into challenges, clearly looking to break play up as much as possible, referee Muir keeping his cards in his pocket despite a string of fouls, until Edwards went in the book on 19 minutes. Edwards then did well to deny the Dons with a crucial defensive header from a Lewis Ferguson cross on 24 minutes, Siegrist grasping the resulting corner. Aberdeen were dominating play, but United's deep defensive set up was denying them a clear sight of goal.

It finally came on 27 minutes, Jonny Hayes turning on the after burners to chase down a long ball over the top from Ferguson, the Irishman bending his run to stay onside before then beating Siegrist in the chase for the ball, clipping a right foot shot past the goalkeeper and in for 1-0.

United began to offer more of an attacking threat but they were still feisty in the tackle, Butcher carded for a swipe on Funso Ojo after 37 minutes. Four minutes later, Butcher nearly bundled his way through after Brown was robbed in midfield, but Calvin Ramsay was on the cover to put the ball behind for a corner.

Hayes wasn't far away from a second on 44 minutes, Ojo fizzing a cross through the box from the right flank after good work by Emmanuel-Thomas and Ferguson, Hayes flinging himself at the ball but unable to get a crucial touch.

Play quickly switched to the other end, Smith slinging in a cross and Harkes finding himself on the end of a free header from the edge of the six yard box in the centre of the goal, but he managed to divert his header wide when the equaliser was there for the taking.

HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 1 DUNDEE UNITED 0

It took a little while for the second half to get going, but when it did, it was with a bang as Aberdeen went 2-0 up on 51 minutes. Hayes played the ball to Ramsay who sold Reynolds a dummy and then collected the ball on the other side of him. His nicely judged cross found Ramirez in exactly the same position as Harkes had been in the first half, but Aberdeen's number nine was not for making the same mistake, pounding his header into the back of the net.

Shankland was the third visitor in the book for a hack on MacKenzie in the 58th minute. United then replaced Reynolds and Clark with Fuchs and Chalmers and a minute later, Ferguson was the first Aberdeen man booked for a late tackle on Butcher.

Aberdeen were playing well within themselves now but MacKenzie was next to threaten for the Dons, wriggling into the box on 64 minutes and getting off a low shot that Siegrist snaffled comfortably enough. Connor McLennan was the first sub, giving Hayes a well deserved rest on 67 minutes after an inexhaustible shift. United immediately threatened, Harkes getting down the left to cross through the six yard box, fortunately just in front of Shankland. The game wasn't won just yet.

Dylan McGeouch saw his first action of the season on 74 minutes, replacing goalscorer Ramirez. With the game seemingly petering out, Chalmers ballooned a shot over from 20 yards after 79 minutes and then United's third change came in the form of Mochrie for Shankland.

Ojo took a whack in the 85th minute as he challenged with Mulgrew for the ball and he was eventually replaced by Jack Gurr after treatment. A Mulgrew free-kick in the final minute caused a brief heart in the mouth moment for Brown as his defensive header skidded goalwards,

Lewis plucking the ball out of the air in the top corner, the last significant action of a very satisfactory afternoon - in front of a very satisfied crowd.