Mccowan nets again as Dundee jump into top six while Dons face drop fight
Mccowan’s penalty sent Dundee back into the top six of the cinch Premiership and left Aberdeen facing a battle against the drop.
Mccowan's fourth goal in six games – and his eighth overall this season – earned Tony Docherty's side a deserved 1-0 win at Dens Park.
The midfielder netted in the 66th minute following a lengthy VAR check which ultimately saw Jack Mackenzie penalised for handball.
The home side had dominated the first half but some hesitancy in front of goal, good goalkeeping from Kelle Roos and several poor deliveries from corners kept the score blank at half-time.
Aberdeen were led by firstteam coach Peter Leven, who was back in caretaker charge for the second time in six weeks following the end of Neil Warnock's brief spell at the helm after Saturday’s 3-1 Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-final home win over Kilmarnock.
The Dons have now gone 11 league games without victory and the defeat leaves them just three points clear of the danger zone following secondbottom Ross County’s stoppage-time equaliser against Hibernian, which allowed Dundee to jump above the Edinburgh side.
Any slim Aberdeen hopes of a top-six push vanished completely as results on the night left them nine points behind Dundee with four games until the split. They face another away game on Saturday, against Motherwell, before the anticipated appointment of a long-term successor to Barry Robson during the international break, although the visiting fans clearly had little faith in the decision-makers as they chanted “sack the board” in the closing minutes.
Dundee had Owen Dodgson back in the team after Owen Beck failed a fitness test, while Leven named the same team that started Warnock's final game against Killie.
The home side were quickly on the front foot and Curtis Main should have converted the rebound after Roos parluke
ried Scott Tiffoney’s strike. The former Dons striker took a touch and the goalkeeper smothered.
A brilliant Dodgson cross was just too far in front of Main six yards out before Dundee had a penalty claim for handball when Connor Barron blocked Tiffoney’s shot. Referee Steven Mclean delayed and then gave a free-kick to Aberdeen inside the box.
Dundee remained well on top. Roos bravely denied Lyall Cameron as the midfielder slid
in to meet Main’s low cross and the Dutchman tipped over Dodgson’s long-range strike.
Angus Macdonald blocked well from Tiffoney and Cameron shot just wide as Dundee continued to probe.
Aberdeen looked slightly better at the start of the second half but they fell behind after initially surviving a free-kick into the box.
Mclean kept the 8,215 crowd waiting even after going to his monitor but he eventually pointed to the spot and
Mccowan sent Roos the wrong way.
Cameron soon had a great chance to double the lead but he dragged a shot wide following Tiffoney's square ball. Dundee continued to create chances and Roos saved from Cameron and Main.
There was plenty of effort from the visitors but home keeper Jon Mccracken remained untested until he held two headers from substitute Ester Sokler in the closing stages.