Dons ease past Accies in Pittodrie opener

Aberdeen brushed off the disappointment of their Europa League exit with a comfortable victory over 10-man Hamilton yesterday to kick off their Ladbrokes Premiership campaign.

Anthony O’Connor netted the opener after 26 minutes and substitute Miles Storey wrapped things up in the final minute of normal time.

The Dons were aided by the sending off of Hamilton debutant Xavier Tomas for two bookable offences.

Derek McInnes had made four changes after the disappointing 2-0 European defeat against Apollon Limassol in Cyprus on Thursday night and, though they took a little time to get going, they could have been in front after early on.

Ryan Christie saw a free-kick saved by Accies goalkeeper Gary Woods and Scott Wright had a penalty claim waved away.

Set-plays looked the most likely route to goal and so it proved as O’Connor flicked home a header from Greg Tansey’s left-wing free-kick to open the scoring after 26 minutes.

Wright stung the palms of Woods with a well-struck 20yard effort and Christie should have doubled the home side’s advantage, only to see his dinked effort clip the crossbar on the way over.

However, Hamilton could have been level at the break as Greg Docherty unleashed a snap-shot on the stroke of halftime that had Joe Lewis diving to his left to push over the crossbar.

Hamilton were reduced to 10 men as Frenchman Tomas picked up a second booking for a tug on Christie and was sent off.

The Dons went close a number of times after that with Shay Logan, Wright and Nicky Maynard all denied before Storey came off the bench to slot a low strike across Woods and into the far corner to seal the win.