…as Dons suffer second home defeat.

Falkirk defeated Aberdeen at Pittodrie tonight for the first time in 52 years and no one could argue with the outcome. The game followed a similar pattern to the Motherwell visit as Aberdeen started strongly then struggled once the visitor’s went ahead. Aberdeen failed to find a way passed a well organised Bairns defence and Falkirk looked the likelier as they constantly threatened with quick breaks. In fact Aberdeen had Jamie Langfield to thank as the keeper made a string of great saves to keep the score down. To rub further salt into the wounds the Dons on loan striker, Chris Maguire scored the winning goal for Kilmarnock as the defeated Celtic 1-0 tonight. The two new signings looked impressive despite the poor fair, but Aberdeen will have to improve or face the prospect of a potential cup upset on Saturday.

Falkirk kicked off just as a snow flurry ended, but it was Aberdeen who were first to push forward as Mackie put Olejnik under pressure. The new signings were settling in as Aberdeen made a lively start with McDonald narrowly flagged offside in the 5th minute. A minute later Falkirk had half a chance when Ifil was muscled off the ball, but Langfield was out quickly to snub out the danger. Mulgrew swung in a free kick in the 10th minute, but there were no takers. A corner quickly followed as the Dons increased the pressure.

MacLean almost ran on to a short goal kick, but Barr came to the rescue then Kerr hit an effort high. MacLean was looking lively and his hold up play in the early stages was impressive. Falkirk’s McLean collected the first yellow card for an off the ball foul on Mackie and a minute later Twaddle followed him into the book for preventing a throw in. Falkirk won a free kick in a dangerous area in the 18th minute and it was deflected wide for a corner.

Aberdeen cleared, but the game had become error strewn on both sides. A good run from Foster in the 23rd minute produced a free kick in a dangerous area and Olejnik had to be at his best to tip Mulgrew’s effort over the bar. Barr then collected a harsh yellow card after Mackie looked to have lost control of the ball and the defender was adjudged to have taken the striker down. After all the Aberdeen pressure Falkirk went ahead in the 31st minute when Healy fired in from 20 yards as the Aberdeen defence backed off.

Aberdeen should have levelled in the 35th minute when Mackie had a free header from a Paterson corner, but he steered the ball over the top. Three minutes later Falkirk had another chance as a free kick was flighted in, but missed by the Falkirk strikers. Fyvie collected the next yellow card, but the game could hardly be described as dirty. The worrying thing was that Aberdeen were now on the back foot as once again a conceded goal appeared to have knocked the confidence out of them. In the final minute Foster whipped in a great cross, but again there were no takers. At the other end Falkirk won a free kick, but it failed to produce a second goal and the first half faded out.

Falkirk were first to threaten after the restart when they won a corner in the 49th minute and when the second ball was whipped in, Aberdeen had Langfield to thank as he smothered the ball with Falkirk looking to make it 2-0. MacLean was denied by Olejnik in the 51st minute then a minute later the Dons won a free kick on the right, but Olejnik gathered the Mulgrew free kick with Diamond challenging. Paton replaced Fyvie in the 54th minute and four minutes later the Falkirk goal was lucky to escape as a Paterson shot was well saved by Olejnik before the ball was scrambled clear.

A quick break at the other end saw Finnigan fire wide then he went down injured as the crowd got upset as they concluded he was time wasting. To be fair the Falkirk man was substituted as Aberdeen continued to struggle. Falkirk should have made it 2-0 when Stewart had an open goal but missed the ball then Langfield made a terrific save from Flynn. This had all stemmed from a panicked clearance from Ifil when he had a lot more time. Langfield was forced into another great save from Lima as his defence struggled in front of him.

Some prolonged pressure earned the Dons a corner in the 69th minute and a second quickly followed as the Dons started to show a bit more urgency. The corner was taken short and Paton fired inches wide of the goal. Derek Young replaced Paterson in the 75th minute as the new signing limped off. Two minutes later Falkirk won another corner, but Aberdeen defended it well and broke forward to win a free kick on the left. The ball was whipped in by Mulgrew, but Mackie headed wide. Another Falkirk corner followed in the 80th minute as Aberdeen looked at sixes and sevens at the back.

At the other end Paton fired well over the top then Falkirk once again threatened as Showunmi waltzed down the left and was unlucky that his delivery was too strong. Another Mulgrew free kick was met by Mackie, but his effort was blocked. With five minutes remaining a Young cross almost sneaked in at the far post, but had to be pushed away by Olejnik. A great passing move in the 87th minute almost produced an equaliser, but Olejnik made a great save from Paton. From the resultant corner kick Paton was unlucky again when his header was cleared off the line.

Olejnik was booked for time wasting then Kerr fired over from the edge of the box as the snow started falling again.Only four minutes of stoppage time was shown as Diamond headed wide in that opening minute. A corner followed as the Dons finally laid siege to the Falkirk goal, but nothing came of the chance and the Dons stuttered to their second straight home defeat and cannot be relishing the visit to Kirkcaldy on Saturday.