…as Dons crash and burn.

Aberdeen had an afternoon to forget as their troubled season took a turn for the worse. After losing a goal in 50 seconds Hamilton added another two after the break before Foster and Diamond were red carded. Another three Dons players were cautioned while the visitor’s managed to play the 90 minutes without a caution. Young grabbed a late consolation, but it was another poor display that leaves the Dons two defenders short for the visit of Kilmarnock in midweek.

Aberdeen made the worst possible start to the match when they conceded a corner in the opening minute and within 50 seconds Imrie had swung the ball across and Flavio Paixao headed the ball past Langfield. The visitor’s went close to adding a second in the 5th minute when Paixao skinned Mulgrew on the right and swung the ball over as Hamilton players appealed for a spot kick for an alleged push. Aluko produced the Dons first shot on goal three minutes later after some good build up play, but a poor finish let him down.

Hamilton were then awarded a soft free kick 25 yards out that Aberdeen could only half clear inviting another shot at Langfield. At the other end Aberdeen carved out their best chance as Aluko worked down the left and delivered a decent cross, but Canning did well to get in front of MacLean as the striker looked set to score. With 15 minutes on the clock Mulgrew tested Murdoch with a 30 yard free kick and a minute later the Dons won a corner. Aberdeen had picked up the pace now and good work from Mulgrew created another half chance.

Langfield was forced into a great save in the 22nd minute as Imrie was allowed to stride forward and hit a powerful shot that was tipped round the post by the keeper. A second corner followed quickly and once more Langfield commanded his area as he punched clear. There was a big flare up in the 26th minute that ended with Grassi being booked. Aberdeen were showing a lot more fight and in the 32nd minute Foster won a free kick near the corner flag. Aluko swung the ball over and Grassi headed over as the Dons looked to get back on level terms.

Imrie then forced another corner in the 35th minute and the ball was scooped inches over the bar by Paixao. A minute later the same player went close again after Duff went close to turning the ball into his own net before Langfield gathered. Hamilton forced another corner in the 39th minute after being awarded a throw in after the ball was clearly put out by a Hamilton player. Three minutes before the break Aberdeen broke forward quickly, but a loose pass ended the move. A snapshot from MacLean was easily held by Murdoch in the 44th minute and at the other end Diamond did well to deflect a shot from Wesolowski.

Aberdeen forced an early corner in the opening minute of the second half, but unlike Hamilton an hour earlier they couldn’t capitalise. Two minutes later Hamilton went close to adding a second when Paixao fired inches wide. In the 49th minute Hamilton did double their advantage when Wesolowski, standing unmarked, headed an Imrie cross in off the bar. Hamilton had the ball in the net again in the 55th minute, but the offside flag saved the Dons. Seconds later Paton replaced Ifil before Duff was cautioned for a mistimed challenge as Paixao did an impression of someone who had just been shot from the stand.

Hamilton were then awarded a spot kick when Duff was adjudged to have tripped Wesolowski and Mensing beat Langfield from the spot despite the protests of the Dons players. Foster was cautioned for his complaints and three minutes later Langfield made a terrific stop from Wesolowski to prevent further embarrassment. Clark Robertson was then handed his debut when he replaced Aluko in the 63rd minute. Langfield was the saviour again in the 68th minute after a slice from Grassi was picked up by Paixao and Langfield narrowed the angle to block the effort.

Fyvie replaced Kerr in the 70th minute and a minute later Foster was sent off when he was shown a second yellow for a foul on Paixao. Diamond was then cautioned in the 72nd minute and Paixao was again involved. A Duff effort was easily smothered by Murdoch in the 75th minute and a minute later Langfield saved again from Mensing. Grassi was lucky to escape a second caution in the 80th minute after the referee penalised him following a rather long delay. The Dons day was completed when Diamond was dismissed for what could only be described as a nudge.

A minute later the nine men pulled a goal back when Young raced forward and hit a sweet shot past Murdoch for a consolation. Two minutes from the end Langfield made another save from Wilkie who should have done better. The match eventually petered out, but Aberdeen now find themselves short for the visit of Kilmarnock in midweek and for many the end of the season can’t come soon enough as the troubled campaign trundles on.