Aberdeen 2
Dundee 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier.

If Dundee are to go down, then they'll go down fighting. That was made clear at Pittodrie last night when the Dens Parkers upset all the odds by taking a shock early lead through Ian Fleming, and then holding it until the 60th minute despite losing Eric Sinclair, who was taken off with concussion.

They coped with the pressures of the night better than Aberdeen who were a frustrated lot until a penalty goal by Gordon Strachan ended their agony.

Inevitably, Tommy Gemmell's team wilted after this goal and Drew Jarvie scored a glory winner.

The veteran Don has certainly proved a thorn in the Dens Parkers' flesh this season. In the four league meetings to date, Drew has scored an amazing six goals.

So, the Dundee outlook is now bleaker than ever, with only four fixtures left to play, while Aberdeen maintain their league challenge though far from convincingly until late in this game.

Dundee kicked off with a heavy rain shower at their backs and took the lead in three minutes. A long clearance from Ally Donaldson bounced through the Dons defence. Ian Fleming was on the ball in a flash and hooked it expertly past Clark from 15 yards.

This was just the tonic the visitors needed, but it stung Aberdeen into action. In a hot attack, McLeish shot and missed by inches.

Sinclair was hurt in a clash with the big number five and went off for attention for a spell, Dundee resisting the temptation to bring on a sub.

Donaldson pulled out a couple of saves, first from Jarvie and then from teammate McGeachie, who nearly sliced a clearance into his own goal. But the Dons, knocked out of their stride by that early goal, were not making much impression.

Dundee had fewer attacks, though MacLaren got a chance with a header from a cross, only to miscue.

Then a bad blow to the visitors in 33 minutes. Sinclair, still feeling his early knock, crumpled with no one near him, and this time had to go off for good. Corrigan substituted.

Clark saved from Mackie at one end, at the other Archibald shot wide. Dundee survived a few hectic scrambles in the box and still finished the first half looking more composed than their opponents.

Aberdeen resumed full of fire, and with wind advantage threatened to give Dundee a torrid time.

Yet the home players, just too anxious, failed to upset the hard working Dens defence. Typical was a wild shot by Archibald.

Home frustration grew on the field and terracings, all to the advantage of the visitors. No clear-cut chances were made until the 59th minute when Donaldson dived and saved a Strachan shot in fine style.

A minute later, fortunes suddenly changed, when Aberdeen were awarded a penalty kick, Mackie downing McGhee in the box. This time Strachan's shot beat Donaldson-and it was 1-1.

McMaster replaced Rougvie and the Dons went all out for the winner. Big Ally saved Dundee by flopping on shot by a McGhee at the foot of the post.

Ferguson goes close Despite all the home pressure the best shot of the match came from Ian Ferguson for Dundee in 70 minutes. Clark just managing to save at the last gasp.

But to the relief and delight of the home fans, their team grabbed the winner in 74 minutes. Jarvie took a Scanlon cross, diddled the ball brilliantly until he had it teed up, then sent an unsaveable shot past Donaldson.

The Dens heads went down then, and there could have been more goals for the Pittourie team before the end-notably when Miller pushed the ball wide from six yards.