Dundee went down to a frustrating 2-1 defeat at home to Aberdeen this afternoon. In the first half the Dark Blues conceded two soft goals, converted by Kevin Nisbet and Topi Keskinen. Simon Murray gave the Dee hope with a penalty on the stroke of half time. The Dark Blues went on to dominate the second half, putting Aberdeen under fierce pressure. Dundee would have deserved an equaliser, but the Dons held on to take all three points.
There were three changes to the Dee’s starting eleven. Jon McCracken replaced Trevor Carson in goal. Ethan Ingram came in for the injured Jordan McGhee, and Clark Robertson made his competitive debut in a three man central defence with Seun Adewumi moving to the bench as the Dee switched to a 3-5-2 formation.
Before the game there was a moving tribute with a minute’s applause for Fabian Caballero who died tragically and far too young yesterday.
The Dark Blues started brightly and in the first minute Ziyad Larkeche burst past two men into the penalty area before Aberdeen cleared.
An attractive and open game produced neat football from both sides without any significant threat to either goal. That changed in the 15th minute when Dundee conceded a soft and preventable goal.
Aberdeen keeper Dimitar Mitov sent a long ball down the Dee left. Billy Koumetio should have simply put it out for a throw but tried to control it. His touch was poor and he gifted possession to Tipo Keskinen who ran clear and set up Kevin NISBET to pass a precise shot into the corner of the net from 12 yards.
Far too often this season Dundee have gifted the opposition an easy goal and it was exactly the wrong thing to do against a confident team in top form.
Dundee continued to play well without creating any chances in open play. A free kick by Sammy Braybrooke was dropped under pressure by Mitov but Aberdeen escaped the resulting goalmouth scramble.
After 32 minutes Dundee fell further behind from a goal that was little better than the first. Mo Sylla lost the ball just inside the Dons’ half. There were half-hearted appeals for a foul, but Sylla seemed to stumble. Suddenly, from being on the attack, the Dark Blues were wide open. Koumetio couldn’t reach Graeme Shinnie’s through ball and KESKINEN ran clear to score with a low shot that flew into the net off John McCracken’s boot.
The Dee kept playing some nice football into the final third and Lyall Cameron’s fierce snapshot from 20 yards brought a fine save from Mitov. Dundee couldn’t, however, find the right final balls to trouble Aberdeen where it really mattered – in the away penalty area.
Finally the Dark Blues got a break at the end of first half. Trying to deal with a long clearance from McCracken, under pressure from Simon Murray, Aberdeen’s central defender Gavin Molloy botched a headed backpass. Murray pounced and was clear inside the penalty area but was tripped from behind by Molloy as he was about to shoot.
It was the clearest of penalties, but not a red card as some supporters were hoping for. That would have been a straight red if it had happened outside the box, but a spot kick is considered sufficient punishment nowadays.
Simon MURRAY sent Mitov the wrong way to score his first goal at Dundee’s true home. His previous five home goals were all at Brechin’s ground.
A goal before half time was vital and set Dundee up for the second half, but they had to try and save the game without Mo Sylla, who was injured and replaced by Josh Mulligan at half time.
The Dee started well after half time and were the better side throughout the second half, but couldn’t find the equaliser they deserved.
Mulligan’s pace and power gave Dundee an extra attacking option and he crossed for Scott Tiffoney whose header was too high.
A rare Aberdeen attack produced a corner that almost led to a Dee goal. McCracken took a high catch and sent a quick long pass for Tiffoney to race away, but Mitov made another fine save to touch the shot out for a corner.
Dundee continued to put Aberdeen under constant pressure, with the Dons keeping all 10 men back in their own half for long periods. Mitov was guilty of some excruciating time-wasting that eventually brought a yellow card.
To their credit, however, Aberdeen were defending well against improved Dee attacking. It would be unfair on both teams to say that Dundee’s pressure was ineffectual.
With 15 minutes left to play Dundee made a triple substitution. Curtis Main, Seun Adewumi, and Scott Fraser (making his debut), replaced Simon Murray, Ziyad Larkeche and Sammy Braybrooke.
Dundee’s attacking continued relentlessly, but the Dons held out. A lovely pass by Cameron found Tiffoney wide on the right. His low cross was flicked on at the near post by Main, but Mitov reacted well to save.
The Dee’s final effort came when Fraser’s cross was met a header by Koumetio that flew over the bar.
Dundee have played worse than this and won on many occasions in the Premiership. There was much to enjoy about Dundee’s performance, but it was all undone by moments of defensive slackness.
When Dundee had the ball, especially in the second half, they gave Aberdeen serious problems. On another day, against a weaker keeper and less confident defence, they would probably have won. But giving Aberdeen a two goal start proved too much. This Aberdeen side are a very different proposition from last season’s underperformers, but the Dons were hugely relieved to hear the final whistle.
Dundee’s first home defeat of the season was disappointing, but there were plenty of encouraging signs from the Dee’s youthful team. The season still offers promise – provided that the defending is more consistent.
Dundee FC 4-3-3
McCracken
Portales, Clark Robertson, Koumetio
Ingram (Vetro 87), Braybrooke (Main 79), Sylla (Mulligan at half time), Cameron, Larkeche (Fraser 79)
Murray (c) (Adewumi 79), Tiffoney
Unused substitutes: Carson (gk), Astley, Fin Robertson, Palmer-Houlden.
Goal: Murray pen (45).
Booked: none.
Aberdeen 4-2-3-1
Mitov
Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, MacKenzie
Shinnie, Heltne Nilsen
Keskinen (Morris 87), Clarkson (Besuijen 87), McGrath (Palaversa 66)
Nisbet (Ambrose 82)
Unused substitutes: Doohan (gk), Duk, Sokler, Milne, MacDonald.
Goals: Nisbet (15), Keskinen (32).
Booked: Molloy (foul on Murray), Keskinen (foul on Mulligan), Mitov (timewasting).
Referee: Calum Scott. Assistants: Dougie Potter, Andy Milne. VAR: Steven McLean. Assistant VAR: Graham McNeillie.
Attendance: 9,030.
Report: James Christie.
