Aberdeen 2 - 0 Dundee United

Aberdeen wrapped up this match with two first half goals, but failed to build on the lead after the break. Smith opened the scoring in the 36th minute after Stillie had blocked his first two efforts. Crawford added a second through Crawford then shut up shop to seal a welcome victory. The Dons now travel to Kilmarnock on Saturday hoping to build on this win as they creep back into the top six for at least 24 hours.

United started the match and the first chance came in the 4th minute when Jamie Smith strode forward and hit a fierce shot that was parried by Stillie. Nicholson reached the loose ball first but steered his effort wide of the target. Aberdeen threatened again three minutes later when a Crawford cross was flicked on by Lovell and scrambled clear. Seconds later Crawford went close as the home team dominated the opening spell. United slowly eased their way into the match and won the first corner of the game in the 13th minute as McCracken headed the set play over the bar.

Lovell and Crawford combined in the 15th minute but neither could control the ball and the danger was cleared. As the game went into a lull play was stopped in the 20th minute for both Lovell and Nicholson to receive attention. With Aberdeen down to nine men Esson was forced into a fine save from Fernandez then the Dons had to defend two corner kicks. Lovell was clearly in trouble and had to be replaced by Darren Mackie in the 25th minute. A minute later Severin delivered a dangerous free kick but Crawford, who had ghosted in at the back post, failed to control the ball. At the other end United won their fourth corner of the match, but it was easily cleared.

In the 27th minute Mackie was bundled to the ground 20 yards out, but failed to win the free kick. A minute later a good move found Mackie breaking on the right, but he failed to find a teammate with his low cross. Smith should have opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when Darren Mackie set him up, but the top scorer managed to screw his effort wide from 12 yards. Kerr collected the first yellow card in the 34th minute for a foul on Smith then a minute later Nicholson hit a decent effort that tested Stillie low to his left. Two minutes later Aberdeen went ahead when Jamie Smith made up for his earlier miss.

He broke on the left and hit a fierce shot that was blocked by Stillie. He reacted quickly and fired a second effort that was again blocked by the United keeper before he worked his way past two defenders and drilled the ball low past the keeper at the third attempt. The Dons almost grabbed a second in the 40th minute but Crawford was eventually crowded out. Aberdeen doubled their advantage two minutes before the break when Mackie fired in a cross from the right that was half cleared to Steve Crawford who in turn steered the ball high into the net. In the closing seconds Aberdeen almost added a third when Severin headed a Mackie cross inches over the bar.

United came out of the blocks quickly after the break , but failed to test Esson. In the 50th minute Hart and Ritchie collided with the United player coming out the worst. After treatment both were able to continue. United then won a free kick in the 55th minute and Archibald's deflected effort was held by Esson. United were having more of the ball and Aberdeen were content to soak up the pressure and hit on the break. Samuel replaced Kerr in the 64th minute and within a minute he tested Esson with a low shot.

Samuel threatened again two minutes later when Esson had to tip an in swinging cross over the bar. The subsequent corner was deflected wide as the visitor's looked for the goal that would take them back into the match. There were muted appeals for a spot kick in the 69th minute when Severin went down in the box before United scrambled the ball clear. At the other end Esson was forced into a fine save when a Robson corner found the head of Kenneth. Chances were few and far between at this stage and the only excitement was the welcome Lee Miller received from the red army when he entered the fray in the 76th minute. Gary Dempsey replaced Steve Crawford three minutes later.

Aberdeen should have wrapped it up in the 87th minute after some excellent play from man of the match, Jamie Smith. He beat several players and found Mackie who in turn fed Dempsey and the substitute's shot was deflected wide of the target. Scott Severin then collected a yellow card in the last minute for something that wasn't to clear to anyone except referee Murray. A minute later a Dons free kick ended with Smith drilling the ball wide of the target. The last chance fell to Aberdeen when Nicholson went on a lung bursting lung but the delivery was missed by Mackie leaving the Dons to settle for two goal victory.

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Match Stats:

		Dons	Utd
Goal Attempts		8	4
On Target		4	2
Corners		5	7
Possession		54%	46%

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