Dundee 1 - 0 Aberdeen

It was a fifth straight away defeat for Aberdeen as they produced a lacklustre display at Dens Park, Dundee securing victory through a VAR awarded penalty.

Taking charge of the Dons for the second time this season in the wake of Neil Warnock’s departure after the 3-1 Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock on Saturday, Peter Leven named an unchanged side. James McGarry returned to the bench in place of Jonny Hayes as did Ryan Duncan, Shayden Morris dropping out.

Dundee drew 2-2 with Kilmarnock at Dens 11 days ago and Tony Docherty made two changes to the side, Dara Costelloe and Owen Dodgson replacing Josh Mulligan and Owen Beck.

Dundee threatened after just three minutes. Connor Barron was dispossessed on the edge of the Aberdeen area by Tiffoney and his drive at goal was parried by Kelle Roos. Main tried to follow up, but he got a poor connection under pressure, Roos able to collect comfortably enough. Four minutes later, Dodgson curled a dangerous ball through the Aberdeen six-yard box but fortunately nobody was able to get a finishing touch.

Bojan Miovski fashioned a half chance out of nothing on 10 minutes, somehow worming his way past four defenders and setting up Killian Phillips whose drive at goal was blocked.

Main caused problems on 21, bustling beyond Nicky Devlin before he rolled in a low cross, Cameron getting to the ball first some five yards out, his poked shot at full stretch smothered by Roos. Roos then had to get a touch to a rasping 25 yarder from Dodgson seven minutes later, turning it over the bar as Dundee continued to create the game’s real opportunities. Cameron skimmed a shot wide of goal on the half hour as Aberdeen struggled to get out of their own half.

Cameron was a whole lot closer in the 41st minute, given too much space in the area to turn and fire off a shot at goal, the ball skimming the outside of the post as it went wide.

HALF-TIME: DUNDEE 0 ABERDEEN 0

From an Aberdeen corner two minutes into the second half, McCracken went up to punch clear, colliding with Stefan Gartenmann as he did, the centre-half needing treatment before he carried on.

Junior Hoilett wriggled his way into a shooting opportunity on 59 minutes, his shot bobbling through the box via a deflection, the resulting corner ending in McCracken’s gloves. It was his last act of the game, Duk replacing him on the hour.

There was, seemingly, a let off for Aberdeen a minute later. A long ball into the box from McCowan at a free-kick was nodded back across goal by Shaughnessy. As a number of players went up to contest the ball, it finally fell for Tiffoney and his swiped shot from eight yards clipped the post and rolled behind. There was another lengthy VAR check for a hand ball, the referee called to the monitor and ruling that Jack MacKenzie had touched it. McCowan took the kick, burying it in the bottom corner as Roos was sent the wrong way.

Leighton Clarkson replaced Phillips after 71 minutes as the Dons tried to find a way back into the game, but Cameron very nearly doubled the lead within a few seconds, screwing a shot across the face of goal and, thankfully, just wide of the far post.

Aberdeen made their final change after 80 minutes with Ester Sokler replacing Barron. Immediately a long throw from Gartenmann caused a bit of confusion in the Dundee area, but the Dons could not capitalise on it. Jamie McGrath went into the book for dissent on 83 minutes.

Cameron forced Roos into action again after 87 minutes with a shot from distance, Main doing likewise a minute later, the Dons custodian keeping both efforts at bay.

Clarkson tried to create something for the Dons in the 90th minute, firing the ball into the box after galloping away down the left, but after a spot of pinball the ball was half cleared. Clarkson returned the ball seconds later, Sokler flicking a header into McCracken’s hands.

Costelloe and Tiffoney were replaced by Lamie and Robertson in the 92nd minute. Main was booked for wasting time moments later.

Clarkson swung in another cross in the 96th minute, but it was awkward for Sokler whose header looped up for another easy save for McCracken, and that was that.

1 minute added at end 1st half.
7 minutes added at end 2nd half.