Aluko and Miller on target

It was a drama packed 90 minutes at Pittodrie this afternoon as Aberdeen defeated Dundee United despite the injury problems. Aberdeen went ahead in the 44th minute when Nicholson released the talented Aluko, who in turn skipped past Dods and blasted the ball past Szamotulski. Unfortunately the young Englishman was forced to go off when he picked up an injury trying to turn the ball into the net after de Visscher crashed the ball off the bar. United keeper Gregorz Szamotulski then physically lifted Aluko off the pitch despite not knowing the seriousness of the injury. Hopefully this has not made the problem any worse than it initially looked. Robson and Wilkie were red carded late in the match before Miller sealed it with a wonderful strike in injury time.

Dundee United kicked off and both teams indicated their willingness to attack in the opening stages. Sone Aluko won the first corner of the match in the 4th minute and the Englishman whipped the ball in and as it fell to de Visscher his shot was deflected wide of the target. There were penalty appeals a minute later but Kenny Clark was unimpressed and to be fair it would have been a soft award. Aberdeen had started positively but United won their first corner in the 8th minute and Langfield was forced to beat a Robertson effort away. United then won a free kick on the left but the delivery was poor and the opportunity wasted.

United went close in the 11th minute when Robertson fired a low drive inches wide of Langfield’s goal. Both teams were playing some good football in stages but both were guilty at times of surrendering the ball cheaply. This became more prominent after the opening 15 minutes as the play became scrappy with Kenny Clark not helping matters with his constant stoppages. Aberdeen should have done better in the 27th minute when wonderful play from Aluko allowed him to release de Visscher on the right but the Dutchman failed to hit the target with only the keeper to beat.

Nicholson played a free kick on the half hour mark into the danger area but an unfortunate deflection took the ball through to the keeper. A Derek Young cross three minutes later caused concern before the ball was scrambled clear. At the other end United won a corner and de Visscher was forced to clear a Wilkie header off the line. He collided with Langfield and the keeper required treatment before two further corners followed. A penetrating run from de Visscher won Aberdeen a corner in the 37th minute but it was well defended.

Another excellent move five minutes from the break should have produced the opening goal. Maguire whipped in a great cross but Derek Young headed wide from six yards when he should have at least hit the target. A minute later Szamotulski produced a wonderful instinctive save from a Maguire header as Aberdeen finished the half strongly. The pressure paid off a minute from the break when Nicholson won the ball in the middle of the park and played Aluko in. The Englishman beat Dods and calmly slammed the ball past Szamotulski for his first goal for the club. United should have levelled in injury time but fortunately Robertson pulled his shot wide of the target with Langfield beaten.

Robb replaced Flood for United at the interval but tit was Aberdeen who started strongly. Aluko did well to keep the ball in play in the 47th minute but over hit his cross and two minutes later Touzani was deservedly booked for stopping Robson in his tracks. Considine followed Touzani into the book when Wilkie went down very easily 25 yards out from goal. Robson hit the wall with the free kick and then blazed a second effort well over. Aberdeen went close in the 55th minute when a deep cross found de Visscher at the far post but Szamotulski made a good save from the header.

Jeffrey de Visscher was unlucky not to add a second in the 63rd minute when he went on a great run, beat two defenders and smashed his shot off the bar. Aluko tried to turn the rebound in to the net but picked up an injury in the process. There was then a disgraceful situation when United keeper Szamotulski physically removed Aluko from the pitch. How he escaped a yellow card only Kenny Clark can explain, but the young Englishman was unable to return and it’s unknown what further damage the Pole could have done. Lee Miller replaced Aluko but Hunt went close in the 68th minute when he fired inches over from the edge of the box.

McNamara replaced Touzani two minutes later before public enemy number one, Gregorz Szamotulski denied the Dons again in the 72nd minute. Miller flicked the ball on to Derek Young but the keeper was out quick to block the shot. United threatened again in the 75th minute but the looping header ended on the roof of the net. The game then exploded in the 77th minute when Robson made a shocking challenge on Maguire and a big rammy broke out. When the dust had settled Robson was given a straight red and after the first intervention of the day from the stand side linesman Young and Wilkie were booked. Maguire was possibly lucky to escape a yellow for retaliation.

After the Szamotulski incident United failed to endear themselves further to the red army when they failed to return the ball after it was kicked out for Nicholson to receive treatment. Wilkie then talked himself into a second yellow card in the 88th minute and joined Robson for an early bath and reduced his side to nine men. Lee Miller sealed the win in the first minute of injury time with a low drive from 25 yards out that skidded past Szamotulski and in to the far corner of the net for a well deserved win.