COSGROVE DOUBLE

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The game might have been a friendly but Cosgrove certainly treated it with no less intensity, getting involved in an early confrontation with left-back Sultan Saif and then clattering through Abdulhameed Al-Nemri in an effort to win the ball in the middle of the park.

When he has the bit between his teeth like he does just now, it is best just to let him play his natural game.

There was a chance for Dons striker James Wilson to build on his goal against Livingston and recapture his scoring touch, but the closest he came in the first half was a glancing header from a Shinnie cross, which sailed wide.

While Dibba offered little attacking threat in the opening 45, they were well organised and matched the Dons for physicality.

Connor McLennan was determined in his efforts to beat his man down the right flank but was singled out for some rough treatment, with two players booked for scything him down.

The worry for Dons boss Derek McInnes – and what drew his ire last year – was the overtly physical nature of the opposition and the risk of his players getting injured.

With three players coming back into the fold after prolonged periods out and two sitting out the game as a precaution, now was not the time for further knocks.

Cosgrove resumed his role as man of the moment six minutes before half-time, finishing well after Wilson slid him through. It was just reward for the travelling side, who had dominated the opening 45 minutes.

McKenna enjoyed a running battle with the lone Brazilian frontman Vinicius Lopes, who seemed to take objection to the Scotland international’s aggressive challenging for the ball.

Lopes, a wily target man who has played in South Korea and Kuwait, did not waste any little opportunity to leave a mark on his counterpart.

The confidence was

RICH VEIN OF FORM: Sam Cosgrove puts the first of his two goals past the keeper to put Aberdeen up 1-0