Mistakes cost Aberdeen

Hearts were the only winners this afternoon as Aberdeen and Dundee United fought out an entertaining draw at Pittodrie. It was two individual errors that gifted United their goals as they grabbed a first half lead when Diamond was caught out in the 10th minute and was forced to concede a penalty that Sandaza promptly dispatched. The Dons made the perfect start to the second half when Severin bundled an Aluko cross over the line after only 18 seconds. United hit back when Mulgrew made a double error to allow Caddis into the area. The on loan player picked out Robertson and his shot beat Langfield via the cross bar. The Dons hit back for a second time when the two villains combined to produce a second equaliser with Diamond bravely heading a Mulgrew free kick into the net. Aberdeen pressed forward for a winner, but it wasn’t to be and the closest they came was when Lee Miller was denied by the bar.

United kicked off in glorious sunshine and they won the first corner of the match after two minutes. A second and third followed a minute later as United forced the Dons on to the back foot. Pushing inside the box ended the threat and Aberdeen won a soft corner kick in the 6th minute as the United defence appeared to panic. The ball was half cleared and Mackie set up Maguire who drilled the ball inches wide of the far post. Maguire almost closed down Zaluska in the 8th minute and the keeper was lucky to get his clearance away.

Aberdeen conceded a penalty in the 11th minute when Zander Diamond made a mistake and ended up dragging Sandaza back. The same player dusted himself down and sent Langfield the wrong way to put United ahead with Diamond earning a yellow card for his troubles. Aberdeen tried to get back on terms in the 13th minute when Miller did well on the left and delivered a cross that Maguire attempted to control before he was crowded out. Aberdeen continued to drive forward but the United defence were winning everything in the air.

Aluko was fouled wide left but once again Mulgrew’s delivery was headed clear by a United head. Aluko was causing most problems at this stage, but the high ball into the box was bread and butter stuff for the visitors. The Dons won another corner in the 25th minute but once again the United defence easily won the high ball. A minute later a Vidal cross was clutched out of the air by Zaluska. A free kick in the 29th minute saw Mackie go down inside the box, but the appeals fell on deaf ears. A minute later another Mulgrew free kick was whipped in, but it beat everyone and went wide.

Lee Miller went very close with a spectacular volley from 25 yards and the ball just went over after good work from Aluko set up the chance. Vidal then won a corner after a Mulgrew cross caused problems. Once again it was comfortably cleared but Aberdeen were soon back on the attack when a Mackie cross found Diamond, but the defender couldn’t pick out Aluko who was in a great position to score. Another great move set up Maguire and his volley was palmed away by Zaluska as United started to creak.

A Feeney shot went wide in the 40th minute and Dods collected a booking a minute later for a late challenge on Aluko. The free kick was taken by Mulgrew and his effort was inches from the target with Zaluska clawing at fresh air. Caddis caused problems in the 43rd minute as he skipped past Mulgrew, escaped a foul from Mair and was deep inside the box before Diamond made an important tackle. Lee Mair earned a yellow card for his troubles. Diamond needed another great challenge in injury time as United finished the half with a flourish.

Aberdeen made the perfect start to the second half when Aluko worked his way down the left and delivered a cross that was bundled into the net by Scott Severin. Aberdeen were continuing to press forward and a great cross from Miller in the 52nd wasn’t attacked by anyone and was tamely chested back to the keeper. A minute later the Dons had to thank Langfield after he made a terrific save from Feeney. But in the 56th minute it was another Dons mistake and another United goal against the run of play.

Aberdeen should have won a free kick as Kerr was being fouled but when the decision wasn’t given Mulgrew inexplicably put the ball out for a corner. The full back compounded his error as he tackled Caddis then appeared to lose his footing before losing out to the on loan player who delivered a cross that was fired in off the bar by Robertson. Aberdeen didn’t let this affect them and they tried to hit back immediately. Two minutes later Maguire pounced on to a through ball and it took a well timed challenge from Kovacevic just inside the penalty area to deny him.

A cross from Maguire on the hour mark just eluded Miller and a minute later the striker hit a free kick into the defensive wall. Aberdeen were out of luck in the 62nd minute when Miller headed a Kerr cross on to the United bar with Zaluska beaten. Aberdeen were dictating play at this stage as they desperately looked for a second equaliser. The leveller came in the 72nd minute when a Mulgrew free kick was bravely headed in by Diamond from a crowded six yard box. A bit of quick thinking from Miller two minutes later almost produced an unlikely goal as he spotted Zaluska off his line and attempted to find the goal from about 40 yards.

Play was now raging from end to end and Aberdeen won a free kick in the 78th minute but Mulgrew fired his effort well over. Dundee United had committed umpteen fouls all afternoon then as it looked like they committed another Lee Miller was controversially booked for an alleged dive. A minute later United were awarded a shocking decision on the left as a United player slipped in front of Vidal. A Maguire shot in the 84th minute deflected into the side netting. After winning a second corner Kerr drilled a shot inches wide of the target.

Duff replaced Maguire with five minutes remaining as Aberdeen pushed forward for the winner. United went close with a long throw in before Aberdeen broke quickly. Miller tried to release Kerr, but his touch was a bit too heavy. Aberdeen’s momentum was increasingly interrupted by the referees whistle, but deep in injury time Aluko found some space on the edge of the box, but his effort was fired over the bar.