Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 0 Aberdeen

Aberdeen started this seasons campaign with a goalless draw against SPL new boys Dunfermline at East End park. The Dons were forced to play more than half the game with 10 men when Derek Young got himself sent off after retaliating against Jason Dair. Ryan Esson had a fine game in the Dons goal and the loss of Thomas Solberg after five minutes didn't help matters as the Dons showed grit and determination to hold out for a draw.

Aberdeen started strongly and Jess tried his luck from 25yards. The shot was deflected wide and the resulting corner was wasted. A minute later Crawford was given far too much space, but fortunately for the Dons Solberg recovered to block the shot and Ferguson hit the rebound wide of the target. Aberdeen were then let off the hook when Ferguson hit a weak shot straight at Esson. Unfortunately Solberg picked up an early knock and had to be replaced by McGuire. The teams were producing some fine end-to-end football but no one could break the deadlock. The Dons came close in the 16th minute when a McAllister pass was controlled by Stavrum and fed to Young. The youngster was unlucky to see his shot deflected wide.

Aberdeen were playing some good football in patches exemplified in the 23rd minute when the Young brothers combined to set up Stavrum. The Norwegian, who looked quite sluggish, had his shot blocked for a corner. Derek Young picked up the first booking of the game for a foul on Junior Mendes after the Dunfermline man made a complete meal of the challenge. Young then put his team mates under unnecessary pressure when he was shown the red card after a Beckham type kick at Dair. After a short interruption from a male streaker the half ended with Esson making a brilliant save from Mendes.

As would be expected the Dons were put under increased pressure in the second half as Dunfermline made the extra man count. Aberdeen were handed a break in the first minute when Crawford missed a sitter with the goal at his mercy. Darren Young followed his brother into Stuart Dougal's book when he was booked for a foul on Ferguson. Perry followed suit six minutes later after a foul on Crawford. Zerouali replaced Stavrum in the 57th minute and three minutes later he cut in from the right and tried to curl the ball into the top corner, but the ball went wide. Esson had made another fine save a minute earlier.

Jamie McAllister was next in the book for dissent. Six minutes later it was the turn of Philip McGuire for a tackle on Mr. Mendes again. The Dons best chance of the second half fell to Darren Young. He broke into the box but Skinner managed to take the sting out of his shot. Zero created another chance two minutes later when his cross to Winters was volleyed over the bar. Rutkiewicz replaced Winters in the closing minutes as the Dons comfortably held out for the draw. So a better start than last season and given the injury problems and the sending off, the Dons will settle for a share of the points.