Aberdeen 3
Dundee 0
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier.

Dundee's hopes of boosting their league position came a cropper at Pittodrie last night when they were hit by two goals in the last 10 minutes to give the home side a rather flattering result.

Dundee had trailed from the 29th minute to an Andy Watson goal and for most of the second half had more of the ball than their opponents and looked capable of salvaging at least a point from the game.

But while their build up was good at times and their determination never in question, they rarely troubled Clark in the Aberdeen goal.

The Dons themselves seemed to lose the place after the interval and it wasn't until Jarvie scored their second goal 10 minutes from the end that they produced the goods we know they can, adding another goal through Willie Miller.

Dundee made two changes from Saturday with Les Barr and Jim Murphy replacing Jim Shirra and Denis Corrigan, the latter confined to the substitutes' bench. Aberdeen were unchanged.

Alec McLeish, called up to the Scotland squad only hours earlier, had the ball in the net for Aberdeen after only seven minutes from a Strachan corner, but the "goal" was disallowed because of a previous foul on Ally Donaldson.

The home side were obviously after a quick goal and for the first 20 minutes or so put the pressure on Dundee who couldn't get near enough Clark to test him.

But in 21 minutes a good move down the right involving Mackie, Millar and Fleming saw Mackie's shot from 18 yards blocked by a defender.

A minute later Clark had to be lively to punch away a MacLaren header and from the rebound Fleming's shot was only inches over the top.

Strachan and Watson between them were worrying Dundee and the Dons should have scored in 24 minutes when the former Dundee player wriggled his way into the penalty box to set up a chance for Hamilton who completely missed his kick and a good chance was lost.

This game had come to life with a vengeance, and Aberdeen got the goal they so desperately wanted in 29 minutes through local boy Andy Watson who fastened on to a header from Jarvie to beat Donaldson with a low shot.

Within a minute Strachan might have scored again for Aberdeen but almost hit the corner flag from 10 yards out from another cross from the left.

This let-off seemed to inspire Dundee who almost snatched the equaliser in 41 minutes through Mackie. His snap-shot from 12 yards out slid past the far post with Clark beaten.

Both sides made changes at the interval. Dundee brought on Corrigan for Sinclair and Aberdeen replaced Hamilton with Scanlon.

Dundee made a determined restart with Millar crashing a fierce shot over the crossbar in 49 minutes and although a Strachan cross troubled Donald son and Watson was only inches away with a terrific shot, Dundee were now playing with much more repose.

Dundee's Millar sent Mackie away with a great pass on the right and more should have been made of the midfield man's low cross into the goalmouth.

Fleming almost grabbed the equaliser with a shot on the turn which came very close before Dundee brought on Ferguson for Murphy in 63 minutes.

The Dens Parkers were battling hard in what was now a fairly ragged affair with Aber deen inclined to give the ball away too often for their own good.

A Barr cross which landed on the roof of the net had Aberdeen worried but despite Dundee having more of the ball Aber deen continued to be more dangerous.

With 14 minutes to go a great Scanlon, Watson, Jarvie and back to Watson move, ended with the young Dons midfield man blasting a tremendous shot just wide of target. This preceded the Dons' second goal ten minutes from time.

Jarvie started the move with a pass to Archibald and was right on the spot only two yards from goal when the strikers cross was turned into his path by McMaster.

The goal bucked up the home side and although Clark did well to punch a Fleming cross clear and Millar was booked after an incident with Watson, the cock a-hoop Dons increased their lead through Miller with only four minutes to go.

Scanlon crossed and after Archibald's first attempt was blocked, Miller scored from the rebound.