A Luke McCowan penalty added to Aberdeen’s troubles with Dundee’s win meaning that the Pittodrie side have not won a league game since January 2nd.
How Dundee got the points in the end will simply add to the VAR/handball debate but regardless of whether McCowan’s spot-kick penalty was harsh on Aberdeen or not, the bottom line is that the Dens Park side were deserving of the points against an insipid Aberdeen side.
Dundee had dominated the opening period without finding a breakthrough. It came after Jack Mackenzie was judged to have handled in the box after Scott Tiffoney had clipped the woodwork, but there was no ambiguity about the fact it was a just return for a game where they had looked far more aggressive and imposing that an Aberdeen side who are in serious freefall.
This game ended with their support calling for the board to be sacked as they voiced their frustration at how this season has played out.
Barry Robson has come and gone, Neil Warnock has come and gone and Peter Leven is on his second tour of duty as interim manager. The same frailties and failings remain.
Aberdeen are just three points off of Ross County. This result did not flatter a Dundee side – now a point ahead of Hibs – who looked hungrier, sharper and significantly more menacing.
Dundee looked to get onto the front foot from the opening stages with Tiffoney’s trickery posing a problem as Aberdeen’s life under Neil Warnock got underway.
Kelle Ross had to block from Tiffoney before Curtis Main clumsily handled as he tried to convert the rebound.
Owen Dodgson whipped in a cross that was begging for someone to get onto the end of it before Aberdeen were able to scramble clear.
For all that Dundee looked the more menacing of the two teams in the early exchanges, Bojan Miovski posted notice of his threat when he made his way into the box but couldn’t get a clean shot on goal before Killian Phillips’ effort was deflected out.
Dens Park let out a huge roar when they thought referee Steven McLean had blown for a penalty when they claimed Lyall Cameron’s shot had been blocked by the hand of Connor Barron. The whistle, however, had gone for a Main shove on Stefan Gartenmann much to the relief of the visitors.
Dodgson then let fly with a rasping effort from the edge of the box that Roos got a fingertip to push away.
Dundee continued to knock at the door with McCowan and Tiffoney both working the Dons defence with Aberdeen penned in their own half for much of the opening period.
Aberdeen emerged with more purpose after the break as they looked to work Dundee’s on-loan goalkeeper Jon McCracken.
Still, it was Dundee who found the goal their first-half pressure merited when McCowan beat Roos from the spot. It came after Tiffoney had hit the post from a Dundee free-kit. In the melee that followed and after an interminably long VAR check, McLean gave a penalty for a Jack Mackenzie handball. McCowan lashed his effort with power and pace into the bottom corner to leave Roos with no chance.
Dundee looked to make certain of the points with Tiffany and Cameron both forcing saves from Roos.
Aberdeen tried desperately to muster a threat as the minutes ticked down with Ester Sokler forcing a save from McCracken with a header. It said much that the 90th minute header was Aberdeen’s only effort of note across the duration of the game.
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