Dundee United 3 - 1 Aberdeen

Aberdeen looked to be comfortable when Scott Severin fired them ahead in the 56th minute but poor defending six minutes later allowed United back into the match and worse was to follow four minutes later when Hart, who had been sick on the team bus before the game, completed a miserable Saturday when he received his second yellow card and was sent off. The ten men couldn't compete with United and the home side went ahead in the 81st minute through a disputed penalty before Samuel added a third in injury time as the Dons pushed for an equaliser. The only consolation was that they stay in second place as Rangers failed to win at Ibrox.

It was a frantic start to the match and United should have taken the lead in the 3rd minute but Conway failed to convert a Robson cross when he was found in splendid isolation at the back post. Dempsey attempted a quick free kick in the 7th minute after Maguire had been fouled, but he was a bit too quick and found Lee Miller in an offside position. Robson forced a save from Langfield three minutes later after cutting inside Foster and hitting a firm drive. There were then loud appeals for a penalty in the 12th minute when it looked like Considine had tugged the jersey of Colin Samuel. Aberdeen looked to be lucky to get the decision.

At the other end Mackie almost broke through but was denied by a fine challenge from Kenneth. United were seeing more of the ball at this stage as they tested the Dons makeshift defence but Aberdeen broke forward and Miller failed to make a decent contact with a Mackie cut back. Aberdeen then won the first corner in the 18th minute when Stillie turned a Severin drive over the top. Maguire delivered a great corner and Stillie appeared to lose the ball in flight but no one was there to take advantage as it scraped past the far post.

United then won their first corner two minutes later and Langfield misjudged it before the ball was blocked for a second corner that was comfortably cleared. Severin almost took advantage of a short pass back in the 23rd minute but Stillie recovered to boot the ball clear. Clark then worked forward and swung in a cross that was palmed away as Miller threatened. Seconds later the keeper made another fine block as Lee Miller looked to score against his former club. Dempsey then looked to have given the Dons the lead in the 28th minute when his free kick smashed off the bar and was blocked by Stillie as Mackie looked to convert the rebound.

The Dons defence failed to clear their lines in the 34th minute and Robson pounced to fire the ball just wide of the post. The same player did the same thing two minutes later as United came right back into the match. Hart collected the first yellow of the match in the 37th minute for a foul on Conway and Foster followed his fellow full back into the book two minutes later. Smith then became the first United player to be booked in the 42nd minute. From the subsequent free kick Maguire swung in a dangerous cross and Smith sliced the ball clear for a corner that was easily cleared.

Lovell replaced Maguire at the interval and the Dons started the half strongly on the poor surface with the backing of the huge Dons support. Aberdeen threatened in the 48th minute when Foster broke and found Lovell in the middle. The Englishman fired wide and was saved his blushes by a late flag. At the other end Langfield had a comfortable save from Samuel. In the 52nd minute Stillie was quick of his line to clear from Lovell and two minutes later a Dempsey free kick called all sorts of problems when Miller flicked the ball on to the far post and Diamond was inches away from finishing the move. Aberdeen then grabbed a sensational lead in the 56th minute.

Kenneth had been booked for a foul on Lovell and the subsequent free kick was whipped in by Dempsey and Severin prodded the ball past Stillie to open the scoring. United tried to hit back three minutes later but Conway took too long and his shot was easily held by Langfield. United did level however in the 62nd minute when a Robson free kick was poorly defended by Aberdeen allowing Samuel to bullet a header past a helpless Langfield. Two minutes later Lovell looked to have broken through but was halted by a late flag as this game now raged from end to end.

Hart, who had been sick on the team bus before the match completed a miserable day when he received a second yellow card in the 66th minute. United were now on the ascendancy as the Dons looked to reorganise. Another Dempsey free kick in the 69th minute caused problems for United before they booted the ball clear as this match never slowed for a second. The referee was the busiest man on the park and had his yellow card was out again in the 70th minute, as Lee Mair was booked for a foul on Lovell. Touzani then replaced Miller in the 71st minute as Calderwood reorganised following Hart's dismissal.

Robson tested Langfield again in the 73rd minute but the keeper had it covered as it drifted wide. A free kick by Robson two minutes later was spilled by Langfield and scrambled clear by Diamond. United then won a soft penalty in the 81st minute when Langfield was judged to have barged into Robertson with no apparent danger on and Robson stepped up to fire the ball past the keeper. Langfield was fuming with the decision but the ten man Dons were now up against it.

Considine then had to look sharp to deny Goodwillie in the 85th minute as the Dons struggled to create chances with only ten men. Two minutes later a wicked Dempsey shot was deflected wide for a corner. The delivery was disappointingly poor however and United cleared easily. A United shot then whizzed past the Dons post before Aberdeen forced another late corner but failed to convert. Samuel then added a third to seal the win in injury time as the Dons pushed forward for a late equaliser.