Dundee 1 - 1 Aberdeen

Aberdeen included a trialist in their line-up. He started up front. Lennox was in goal with a back four in front of him of Harvie, McKenna, Rose and Seb Ross. Willo Flood was in the centre of midfield along with Thomas and Norris, Smith and Anderson played in behind the trailist.

Although it was a makeshift Aberdeen side the Dons still started the game strongly. On 4 minutes Smith played a great ball to Norris but the keeper produced a fine reaction save to keep the ball out of the net. Then in the 7th minute the Dons trialist produced a very good finish at the near post to open the scoring. Bruce Anderson showed good awareness to take a quick thrown in and Daniel Harvie made a good run. Daniel, who made his first team debut last night, produced a superb cross to find the trialist who converted. Aberdeen continued to dominate and were unfortunate not to go further ahead when Dylan Thomas curled in a great free kick which Michael Rose headed goal ward but his effort came off the back post. A few minutes later Cammy Smith, whose movement in and around the area was causing the home side problems, put over great ball from the left across the face of goal but no one could get a touch. In the 17th minute Bruce Anderson, who was having a fine back, had to come off with what looked a bad injury. He was replaced by Kalvin Orsi. On 21 minutes Smith again played another great through ball and he almost found the Dons trialist. After the 25 minute mark Dundee started to come more into the game. Jesse Curren put a shot just over and two minutes later the Dons had a major let off when they gifted possession away. A square pass was picked up by Arturo and he looked certain to score but Arron Lennox did brilliantly to get out quickly and make a save by diving bravely at the striker's feet. On 32 minutes the first corner of the game almost led to another Aberdeen goal. Thomas played a good ball in which Harvie attacked well but his header was just off target. On 37 minutes the Dons went even closer when a great Norris cross was headed towards goal by the trialist but Dundee's keeper David Mitchell produced a brilliant save, getting the slightest of touches which directed the ball onto the crossbar. Just before half time Smith again with a through ball which almost created an opening and then at the other end a free kick was headed back across goal to Arturo but Lennox got down low to make another very smart stop. The keeper is continuing to impress.

Aberdeen played some good football in the first half and probably should have been further again. After the break though the game became very untidy and was a far more even contest. Cammy Smith had a volley which was well hit but too close to the keeper and the Dons also had penalty appeal waved away. Dundee to be fair also had a pen appeal turned down later in the half. On 65 minutes a piece of quality from Kalvin Orsi as his superb cross picked out the trialist but his header went wide. Shortly after that Dundee wasted a great chance when Ryan Gemmell failed to hit the target from about 12 yards out after the ball broke back to him. With one eye on Saturday Flood and Smith were both replaced with about 20 minutes to go. The final quarter of the game was very scrappy but Dundee were forcing the Dons further and further back and Paul Sheerin's side were living dangerously. On 76 minutes Curren burst forward and played in Arturo but he shot wide. On 84 minutes Black curled the ball onto the roof of the net and two minutes later Black lobbed a snap shot over. Just when it looked as if Aberdeen would survive a long throw caused all sorts of problems inside the area. The ball was deflected towards the back post area and substitute Kyle Clark, who was completed on his own, hammered the ball past Lennox. Both teams had half chances to win it in added time but the contest finished as a draw.