The opening stages of the match were lively as both teams looked for the early opener.Yet it was the visitors who were the hungrier and got their noses in front after only six minutes. After a half hit clearance from Anderson, the ball rolled out to the edge of the box where it was met by Paton. The United man, calmly passed and curled the ball into the net beyond Jamie Langfield to put his team in the driving seat. Aberdeen were rattled and Rankin tried his luck from distance wth one of his infamous "squigglers" however the Dons keeper was equal to it touching it behind for a corner. Dundee United continued to pile on the pressure and it was Souttar's turn to pass up a wonderful opportunity. The ball fell kindly to the midfielder but his shot from the centre of the box was blocked and diverted for a corner. Aberdeen were lucky they found themselves only a single goal behind.
Robson looked desperate to defeat his old club once more and was taking the game by the scruff of the neck, single handedly he won a corner for Aberdeen, which he then took short, getting the ball back again. He cut inside and thundered an effort in at goal and the United keeper was unsure and could only parry back into the danger area before it was cleared. Signs of improvement for Aberdeen. Dundee United then had a penalty claim which in all honesty was not a penalty claim as Armstrong flopped inside the box over as soon as he felt the slightest of touches from Reynolds. The referee was not so easily fooled and correctly waved play on. Again the Dons attack on the half hour mark was coming through the nucleus of the team, Barry Robson. He clipped a ball down the wing for Logan who expertly curled in a ball finding McGinn. McGinn's header was easily saved by Cierzniak and the Northern Irishman's goal drought continued. McGinn who was playing a more central role, was finding several pockets of space and was looking in the mood for a goal. After controlling a long ball he stabbed at goal and the shot was unconvincingly saved as the shot was turned onto the post and rebounded out. No Dons players were there to take advantage and poke home. A goal was surely coming for the men in red.
The second half would prove to be more fruitful for Aberdeen and it was Robson again who got the first chance of the half. He turned his opponent following a Shaughnessy throw in and volleyed the bouncing ball towards goal and although it looked to be going wide it was touched behind for a corner. Aberdeen had begun the second half very well indeed and that was rewarded on 52 minutes. Robson once again whipped in a brilliant near post cross to McGinn who headed home getting his first goal in 19 games and drawing Aberdeen level. Game on. The strikr was now bursting with confidence and minutes later looked for the spectacular as he attempted to curl the ball past the keeper from the outside of the box. It was comfortably saved however.
United were now beginning to hang on a little bit and it was Smith's turn to get an effort in on goal but he spooned his over the bar. Rooney looked to win the game for the Dons late on as he struck a low shot from outside the box, which was on target but did not have enough power to trouble the United goal. Then Ryan Jack in the dying minutes, who scored Aberdeen's winner against Kilmarnock at Pittodrie last week attempted a volley, but his effort skewed wide meaning honours even at Pittodrie.
FT: Aberdeen 1-1 Dundee United
Aberdeen
- 01 Langfield
- 29 Logan
- 06 Reynolds
- 08 Flood
- 04 Anderson Booked
- 02 Shaughnessy
- 22 Jack
- 15 Robson
- 10 McGinn
- 17 Rooney
- 14 Smith (McManus - 77' )
Substitutes
- 03 Robertson
- 07 Zola
- 09 Vernon
- 18 Low
- 20 Weaver
- 24 McManus
- 28 Tate
Dundee United
- 01 Cierzniak
- 12 Watson
- 05 Gunning Booked
- 06 Paton
- 02 Dillon
- 20 Souttar
- 18 Dow
- 08 Rankin
- 09 Graham
- 11 Mackay-Steven (Gauld - 64' )
- 10 Armstrong (Gomis - 75' )
Substitutes
- 16 Wilson
- 19 Gauld
- 25 McCallum
- 27 Gomis
- 29 El Alagui
- 37 Smith
- 39 Connolly
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