Scottish Premiership
AberdeenAberdeen2DundeeDundee1

Aberdeen 2-1 Dundee

By Alasdair LamontBBC Scotland at Pittodrie

Stevie May scored twice on his home debut as Aberdeen edged past a dogged Dundee at Pittodrie.

May headed Greg Tansey's corner past goalkeeper Scott Bain for his first.

Marcus Haber headed off the crossbar for Dundee before Roarie Deacon equalised when he intercepted Ryan Christie's poor pass and drilled the ball into the net.

The Dons re-took the lead when Graeme Shinnie's shot rebounded to May, who rifled in a second.

It means Aberdeen are one of three teams - along with Celtic and St Johnstone - to boast a 100% start to the season.

For Dundee, though, it leaves manager Neil McCann still searching for their first points of the season, with his side rooted to the bottom on goal difference.

Aberdeen's strength and consistency has added a swagger to their play, such is the confidence in their ability to win.

They swarm forward - an attacking threat offered from every angle - and when they went ahead early in the match it looked ominous for Dundee.

Tansey's set-piece delivery means the absence of Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn is being less keenly felt and his corner found the head of May, who directed the ball past Bain.

Aberdeen dominated the opening period but allowed Dundee a couple of sights of goal.

McCann had bemoaned his side's inability to turn chances into goals last weekend and the same was true here as James Vincent dithered in front of goal and allowed Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis to smother the opportunity.

Haber showed greater conviction when he met Deacon's cross with a powerful header, but on this occasion the crossbar intervened.

Roarie Deacon (left) and Ryan Christie
Roarie Deacon took advantage of a Ryan Christie (right) mistake to level

McCann stressed beforehand that two defeats from two didn't have him worried and his players continued to show composure as they sought a way back into the game.

In the end, that came from an unlikely source. Christie's cross-field pass was aimless and Deacon was able to burst towards the edge of the box before firing a low shot through the legs of Lewis.

The wet surface did the goalkeeper no favours, but he will be disappointed nonetheless to lose a goal in such fashion.

Dundee's profligacy in front of goal came back to haunt them at a pivotal moment, though. Scott Allan slid the ball past the post after being picked out unmarked by Deacon.

A further opening was passed up as Haber failed to pick out Faissal El Bakhtaoui and, perhaps crucially, both players pulled up injured.

Before they could be replaced, Aberdeen stormed forward and although Shinnie's shot was charged down, May swept a beautiful strike past the diving Bain.

Post-match reaction:

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: "It wasn't our normal flow and we didn't have the normal control we're used to at Pittodrie. There were some spells of the game I didn't particularly enjoy but I enjoyed winning.

"Dundee showed they're a good team. We needed to show more confidence to go and work them and ask questions. Ultimately it's about taking your chances, and it's a hell of a strike from Stevie May. He's already proved his worth. He's a fantastic player capable of big moments.

"I think Dundee will probably go back down the road feeling aggrieved they didn't get something from the game and I can understand that."

Dundee boss Neil McCann: "Sometimes you just think luck is not going for you. We go down to nine men [with Haber and El Bakhtaoui injured] and are desperate to get people on.

"I am angry with myself because I could have just walked on to the pitch and tried to stop the game. I felt we had a sub ready but [referee] Kevin [Clancy] wouldn't let us get him on.

"Then we have a chance to put the ball out but for some reason we don't, we try to keep the ball alive and it is just silly decisions like that which come back to bite you. It's hard to take because we have played really well in spells today."

Line-ups

Aberdeen

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1Lewis
  • 2LoganBooked at 41mins
  • 5O'Connor
  • 6Reynolds
  • 4Considine
  • 16TanseySubstituted forMaynardat 66'minutes
  • 7McLeanBooked at 90mins
  • 3Shinnie
  • 11Mackay-StevenSubstituted forStewartat 57'minutes
  • 22Christie
  • 83MayBooked at 65minsSubstituted forRooneyat 81'minutes

Substitutes

  • 8Stewart
  • 9Rooney
  • 10Maynard
  • 14Arnason
  • 15Wright
  • 17Stockley
  • 20Rogers

Dundee

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Bain
  • 2Kerr
  • 22Hendry
  • 34Waddell
  • 3Holt
  • 8KamaraBooked at 64minsSubstituted forO'Haraat 85'minutes
  • 10Allan
  • 21Deacon
  • 4Vincent
  • 20El BakhtaouiSubstituted forMcGowanat 80'minutes
  • 29HaberSubstituted forWilliamsat 80'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Hateley
  • 11Williams
  • 12Parish
  • 14O'Hara
  • 18McGowan
  • 28Spence
  • 47Lambert
Referee:
Kevin Clancy
Attendance:
15,646

Match Stats

Home TeamAberdeenAway TeamDundee
Possession
Home57%
Away43%
Shots
Home10
Away9
Shots on Target
Home6
Away1
Corners
Home4
Away6
Fouls
Home11
Away15

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Aberdeen 2, Dundee 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Aberdeen 2, Dundee 1.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Mark Reynolds (Aberdeen).

  4. Post update

    Roarie Deacon (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Scott Bain.

  6. Post update

    Attempt saved. Greg Stewart (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  7. Booking

    Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  8. Post update

    Corner, Dundee. Conceded by Shaleum Logan.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Greg Stewart (Aberdeen).

  10. Post update

    Paul McGowan (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Dundee. Mark O'Hara replaces Glen Kamara.

  12. Post update

    Corner, Dundee. Conceded by Anthony O'Connor.

  13. Post update

    Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Aberdeen. Adam Rooney replaces Stevie May.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Dundee. Paul McGowan replaces Faissal El Bakhtaoui because of an injury.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Dundee. Danny Williams replaces Marcus Haber.

  17. Goal!

    Goal! Aberdeen 2, Dundee 1. Stevie May (Aberdeen) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner.

  18. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  19. Post update

    Delay in match Marcus Haber (Dundee) because of an injury.

  20. Post update

    Anthony O'Connor (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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