McGinn on target in entertaining contest

Aberdeen 1  | McGinn 53′

Dundee United 1 | Paton 5′

SPFL Scottish Premiership | Pittodrie | 3pm KO | FT

Aberdeen and Dundee United played out a very entertaining battle at Pittodrie this afternoon as both sides took a point.

United took the lead early when Paton curled an effort around the outstretched Langfield from outside the box. A fine finish. For the first 20 minutes the visitors were the better side and could easily have grabbed a second. Langfield made one outstanding save from Rankin and Mark Reynolds, making his 100^th appearance for the Dons this afternoon, did brilliantly to deflect a shot from point blank range over the bar.

The Dons then fought back well, showing real determination, and driven on by the outstanding Barry Robson they started to dominate. Niall McGinn was desperately unlucky not to score when he latched onto a Rooney flick on but his shot hit the post. Aberdeen had a lot of possession in and around the box but United defended well.

The Dons continued to dominate in the second half, playing some good football and on 53 minutes, Barry Robson swung in a great delivery which McGinn stooped low to glance past Cierzniak. It was Niall’s first goal in 2014 and no one deserved a goal more. He has been in great form of late.

The home side looked the far more likely to win the match and went close on a few occasions; McGinn, Rooney and Jack all went close but they couldn’t find a winner.

The Dons now make the double trip to Edinburgh. They travel to Tynecastle on Wednesday to face Hearts and then on Monday to play Hibernian.

Aberdeen and Dundee United go head to head in a vital SPFL Premiership match this afternoon at Pittodrie in the race for second place. Dons boss Derek McInnes makes 2 changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Ross County in midweek with Russell Anderson and Joe Shaughnessy returning in place of Alan Tate and the suspended Andrew Considine.

Aberdeen team |  Langfield, Logan, Shaughnessy, Anderson, Reynolds, Flood, Jack, Smith (McManus 77′), McGinn, Rooney, Robson

Substitutes not used | Weaver, Robertson, Tate, Low, Zola, Vernon

RedWeb match report | please click here

RedImages | please click here

Quotes from the press room | please click here

REDTV Highlights | please click here (to follow)

Derek McInnes | please click here

Niall McGinn | please click here

Cammy Smith | please click here