Aberdeen 1 United 0

Adam Rooney’s 27th goal of the season gave Aberdeen victory over United in a scrappy game at Pittodrie. By Peter Rundo Even though the hosts were reduced to ten men after former United midfielder Barry Robson’s dismissal with 18 minutes left, United failed to fashion an equaliser. With last week’s skipper Paul Paton injured, Calum Butcher replaced him in midfield, while Jarek Fojut returned after injury to captain the side for the first time with Blair Spittal dropping out as did flu-stricken Aidan Connolly for whom Mario Bilate took over. There were two changes in the Dons line-up. Ashton Taylor came in for Donervon Daniels and ex-Tannadice favourite Barry Robson replaced Cammy Smith. The Dons were first to threaten after five minutes. Adam Rooney laid the ball into Kenny McLean but the former St Mirren midfielder blazed wildly over. The home side enjoyed the bulk of possession without threatening until the 15 minute mark when Kenny McLean threaded a defence-splitting pass into the path of Jonny Hayes who fired in a low drive which Rado Cierzniak stopped with his feet before collecting. To counter Hayes threat, Jackie McNamara brought Ryan McGowan back to right back with Jon Souttar moving into midfield and into a 4-4-2 formation. Four minutes later, Fojut’s headed clearance fell to the feet of Niall McGinn, but his stabbed low shot went well past.  Continuing to make the running, Hayes went close after 27 minutes running the ball into the side netting, but only after the whistle had sounded for a foul on Cierzniak. And two minutes later, Kenny McLean had the ball in the net from a corner but again ref Bobby Madden spotted an infringement. Seven minutes from the interval, Calum Butcher brought down Hayes for which the United midfielder was the first to go in the book. Worse followed as Aberdeen scored from the resultant free-kick. Mark Reynolds was on the end of Robson’s delivery to knock it back across goal for Rooney to touch over the line after Rado had kept the ball out with a foot. United attacks had been few and far between but with the interval looming they finally threatened with Bilate running on to Chris Erskine’s finely judged pass, but Scott Brown closed him down and blocked the striker’s shot. HALF-TIME Aberdeen 1 United 0 There was a blow for the Tangerines three minutes after the re-start when Bilate limped off and was replaced by Robbie Muirhead. Despite that United started the half on the front foot. But it was Aberdeen who came closest to scoring on 54 minutes when Willo Flood picked up a stray pass and fired in a shot from 25-yards which Rado as at full stretch to push round the post for a corner. On 58 minutes McGowan was the second United player to be booked again for a foul on the dangerous Hayes as Aberdeen regained the attacking initiative. However, at the other end, Erskine did fire in a 20-yarder, but it was straight at keeper Scott Brown. And after surviving another spell of Dons pressure, Erskine sent Muirhead away down the left and he cut inside and Brown was grateful to grab is low angled effort at the second attempt. There was sensation after 72 minutes when Aberdeen were reduced to ten men with Robson dismissed for hitting Charlie Telfer in the face with a flailing elbow, though it appeared accidental. Immediately, Derek McInnes withdrew McGinn and introduced Ryan Jack to ensure they held on to their narrow advantage. And wit 13 minutes left, Jackie McNamara brought on Ali Coote for his debut with Calum Butcher making way for the 16-year-old midfielder. But the hosts almost increased their lead with ten minutes left, a Jack shot being blocked for a corner at the near post. In a tousy finish, United pressed hard but couldn’t find a way past the Dons defence to test Brown. Indeed, Aberdeen almost doubled their lead in the last minute when Hayes broke clear and played Rooney in but Souttar made a vital block at the expense of a corner. FULL-TIME Aberdeen 1 United 0 SUMMARY: A New Firm meeting to forget for most Arabs. Indeed, it was a game of few chances for either side, but the most disappointing aspect from a tangerine perspective was so few were created by the visitors, who for the most part defended competently, only to be breached from a set piece. MAN OF THE MATCH: Chris Erskine made a case for the nomination having been the author of almost all his side’s creativity, but the award goes to John Souttar.  Started off on the right of a three man defence, it was after his switch into the middle of the park – a position many view as his best – that he shone on an otherwise rather uninspiring afternoon. Aberdeen: Brown, Logan, Taylor, Reynolds, Considine, Flood (Daniels 90), Robson, Hayes, McLean, McGinn (Jack 75), Rooney. Substitutes: Langfield, C Smith, Pawlett, Goodwillie, Shankland. United: Cierzniak, J Souttar, Morris, Fojut, McGowan, Butcher (Coote 77), Telfer, Erskine, Dixon, Ciftci, Bilate (Muirhead 49) Substitutes: Szromnik, Dillon, Spittal, S Smith, Anier, Coote. Referee: Bobby Madden. Crowd: 12,619 .