…as Folly injured.

Aberdeen put in a magnificent display at Pittodrie this afternoon, but were denied the win by a late Goodwillie strike. Aberdeen went ahead in the 37th minute when United defender, Watson was woefully short with a pass back. Maguire pounced on the ball, rounded Pernis and calmly passed it into the net. The half finished in a blaze of controversy as Hartley looked to have been tripped just inside the box. The referee ignored the appeals and a similar claim was denied just after the break. Aberdeen went on to dominate the second half, but couldn’t find that vital second goal. Then in the fifth minute of injury time Goodwillie scored with a turn and shot that gave Langfield no chance. The extra time came because of a long stoppage when Yoann Folly required treatment and was stretchered off. Although it feels like a defeat Aberdeen remain unbeaten, and more importantly, look more solid under Craig Brown.

Aberdeen kicked off and they were first to threaten as Maguire looked to work his way down the right. Dundee United won the first corner in the 4th minute and Langfield was forced into a point blank save as the second ball came back into the box. The ball fell kindly for Goodwillie six yards out, but Langfield spread himself well to block. Two minutes later McNamee worked his way into the United box to win the Dons first corner. It was well defended before the ball came wide to Maguire, but his cross was too strong.

Aluko broke in the 10th minute, but the ball to Maguire took him too wide and the chance was lost. Two minutes later Aberdeen won their second corner, but Aluko failed to get the ball beyond the first man. In the 15th minute Maguire released Folly on the right, but the United defence were able to clear the dangerous cross. Dillon collected the first yellow card of the game in the 18th minute after Maguire had skinned him. From the resultant free kick Vernon could only steer the ball well wide under pressure.

Gomis collected a yellow for a poor two footed challenge in the 24th minute and Jack was spoken too for his reaction to the challenge. From the free kick Vernon looped a header on to the roof of the net. Aberdeen were dominating at this stage, but United showed they were still a threat when they carved out a half chance in the 29th minute. Three minutes later Langfield had to make a save when Diamond appeared to be pushed to the ground by Goodwillie and the United strikers cross was headed tamely towards goal.

United were enjoying more of the play now and a fierce shot in the 36th minute crashed off the post although to be fair Langfield looked to have it covered. A minute later Aberdeen went ahead following a howler by Watson. The United defender was woefully short with a pass back and Maguire pounced on the ball, rounded Pernis and calmly passed the ball into the net. A minute later Considine was cautioned for a foul and from the resultant free kick the ball went just over.

Two minutes before the break Considine was penalised harshly when a United player threw himself to the ground on the edge of the box. From the free kick Langfield did well to claim the deflected ball. A corner kick quickly followed as United increased the pressure. In the closing seconds Kenneth had a chance but failed to hit the ball cleanly. The half then finished in a blaze of controversy as Hartley looked to have been tripped just inside the box. The referee ignored the appeals as Hartley hobbled off at the interval.

Daly replaced Gomis at the interval as United looked to get back into this one with an extra striker. The first chance fell to the Dons, but the less said about the effort the better. Pernis had to look smart in the 47th minute when he was out quickly to claim a Maguire cross with Vernon in close attendance. Another penalty claim was dismissed two minutes later when Maguire went down under a challenge. Substitute Daly then went into the referee’s book after only five minutes. Seconds later Vernon drilled the ball wide of the goal after being set up by Jack.

There were some meaty challenges going in now as both sides battled for the next goal. A quick free kick in the 57th saw Aberdeen mount an attack on the left, but once again United survived. A minute later United forced a corner that was well defended, but they kept up the pressure with a series of throws that ended with a header going wide of Langfield’s goal. Maguire went on a great run and was unlucky not to find Vernon with a neat through ball just after the hour mark. Seconds later Aluko worked his way to the bye line and there were muted appeals as the ball hit a grounded defender.

Folly went down injured under a hefty, but fair challenge in the 64th minute and required some lengthy treatment. He failed to recover and was stretchered off and replaced by Derek Young. Good work by Maguire and Aluko forced a corner in the 70th minute, but the delivery was poor. Three minutes later Magennis replaced Jack and United made a double change as Robertson and Armstrong joined the fray. Another corner was wasted before an injured McNamee made way for Ifil.

Aberdeen were well on top now, but they badly needed a second goal and Maguire was unlucky to see his goal bound shot blocked in the 85th minute. A minute later a free kick was easily gathered by Pernis before a rare United break gave the visitor’s a half chance that fortunately went over the bar. The fourth official signalled six minutes of injury time and that appeared to give United, who hadn’t featured in the second half, a fresh impetus. In the fifth minute Aberdeen were dealt a sickening blow when a Goodwillie turn and shot sailed past Langfield to earn United an undeserved point.