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Dons Lose Again ...

09 November 2010

…as Mackie and Jack injured

Aberdeen failed to win against Inverness as their problems intensified. They trailed at the interval courtesy of a 33rd minute penalty that was shrouded in controversy. Inverness started an attack with a blatant hand ball that was missed by the referee and when the ball was eventually delivered the referee pointed to the spot for an alleged nudge by Mackie. Rooney netted, but in the second half Velicka pulled one back with his first goal for the club. However a late header from Munro gave Inverness the spoils. To add to the misery Mackie was stretchered off and young Ryan Jack was forced to leave the field following a heavy challenge.

Aberdeen kicked off and in the opening minute Diamond was forced to clear his lines as Inverness moved forward. There was little to report in the opening minutes, but the visitor’s looked the more confident at this stage. Inverness forced the first corner in the 6th minute and they went close with a header that floated just wide of the goal. Inverness then won a free kick on the left that was cleared comfortably. Aberdeen created their first chance in the 11th minute when Maguire attempted a lob that had Esson rooted to the spot as the ball went wide.

Two minutes later another Inverness corner caused concern, but once again the ball drifted wide. In the 16th minute Mackie and Vernon combined well and the big striker showed quick feet before testing Esson in the Inverness goal. Duff conceded a free kick 40 yards out and as the ball came across there was panic in the Inverness back four, but no one could get the final touch. Young earned the first caution of the match for a professional foul before Aberdeen won a free kick in a dangerous position with 23 minutes on the clock.

The ball was floated in. but evaded the strikers as they rushed in. Vernon should have opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Mackie placed the ball on his head. Unfortunately he steered it wide where Aluko collected. After further build up play a Vernon header came off the post as Aberdeen started to take control. Another chance went begging on the half hour mark when Vernon broke on the right and cut the ball back to Maguire. Like everyone else Aluko was expecting a shot, but the striker passed to Aluko and the chance went.

Inverness then started an attack with a blatant hand ball that was missed by the referee. That mistake was to prove costly to Aberdeen as Robertson was forced to bring the player down. He earned a yellow card for his troubles and when the free kick was delivered the referee pointed to the spot for an alleged nudge by Mackie. There were huge protests from the Aberdeen players and Mackie and Diamond found themselves in the book. When it had all died down Rooney stepped up to give Inverness the lead.

In the 40th minute a Maguire cross was palmed away by Esson. Aluko collected, but his finish was poor and the ball trundled wide. A minute later Maguire released Mackie and he went on a race for the ball against Esson. The striker reached it first, but couldn’t force the ball into the net and picked up bad injury in the process. He was stretchered off and replaced by Velicka. Another corner failed to produce an equaliser, but the Dons finished the half on top.

Aberdeen forced an early corner in the second half, but the ball was half cleared. When it was delivered again Vernon steered a header goalwards, but Esson collected. In the 48th minute Jack was the victim of a heavy challenge just inside the box, but the referee was happy to signal a corner. Aberdeen then claimed a deserved equaliser in the 50th minute when Vernon released Velicka. The on loan striker beat the offside trap and finished well to claim him his first goal for the club.

Diamond produced a goal saving tackle deep inside his own area in the 55th minute and the subsequent corner was well defended. Ryan Jack didn’t recover from his earlier challenge and he was forced to leave the field in the 57th minute. He was replaced by Ifil and on the hour mark Aberdeen forced another corner and this produced another controversial moment. The corner was half cleared and the ball was fired back into the area and appeared to hit a defenders’ hand. After a long look the referee turned away.

In the 66th minute Ifil collected a yellow card when he conceded a free kick on the left. Diamond did well to clear the ball as the match remained in the balance. In the 71st minute Aberdeen had a lucky escape when the ball was looped inches over the bar. At the other end Maguire found space on the right, but his low cross was cut out by Esson. Aluko then went close in the 75th minute when he created space for himself and curled his shot just wide.

Three minutes later a cross from Ifil was just inches too high for Vernon to collect and seconds later Maguire reached the bye line and produced another great cross that was stolen off the toe of Vernon as he looked sure to score. Just as Aberdeen were looking the more likely Inverness regained the lead when Aberdeen failed to clear their lines and Munro headed past Langfield. With three minutes remaining a chance fell for Derek Young, but he failed to convert. In the closing seconds another cross evaded Vernon and the game was lost.

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