Terrors get first win by hammering Dons
DUNDEE UNITED 4
Behich (41), Watt (45), Mcgrath (pen 73), Mccrorie (og 82)
ABERDEEN 0 Dundee United’s long wait for their first Premiership win is finally over – and it was secured in some style as they swept Aberdeen aside at Tannadice.
The Tangerines stormed into a two-goal lead, netting twice just before half-time through Aziz Behich – the Australian’s first for the club – and Tony Watt.
The Dons mounted a big fightback at the start of the second but United netted a third thanks to a Jamie Mcgrath penalty with Aberdeen’s Ross Mccrorie scoring a late own goal.
Despite the victory, United remain bottom of the table but have narrowed the gap on Kilmarnock to two points while the Dons remain fifth.
There was a cracking atmosphere inside the ground before the 6pm kick-off and United were quick out of the blocks, creating a chance with just seconds on the clock as Glenn Middleton fired a cross in from the right but Mcgrath
headed wide of Dons keeper Kelle Roos’ post.
Mcgrath had another opportunity shortly after but his shot from the edge of the Aberdeen box was easily gathered by Roos.
Following that opening flurry from the home side, Aberdeen began to find their feet in the game and had a great chance toopenthescoringinthe 12th minute when Jayden Richardson squared the ball to Bojan Miovski but with the goal gaping, the striker could not set himself properly and the opportunity was lost.
Aberdeen were enjoying a sustained period of pressure and Miovski came close again with a header that flashed just wide.
Jonny Hayes then broke from inside his own half down the left but after skinning a United defender, his cross evaded everyone as Aberdeen players flooded into the United box.
There was a penalty appeal in the 34th minute from the home players as Mcgrath raced through on goal and went down as Roos cleared but referee Willie Collum saw no offence.
However, United finally broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.
Mcgrath sent a low ball in from the right towards Watt whose initial shot was parried by Roos but Behich reacted quickest to rifle the ball home.
Just four minutes later, the Tangerines doubled their advantage when Kieran Freeman hit a low cutback from the right with Watt sweeping the ball home, high past the helpless Roos for his second goal in two games.
United tails were still up at the start of the second half, pegging Aberdeen back but the Dons finally broke away down the left with Hayes swinging a superb cross into the box but Vicente Besuijen could not connect with a back post diving header.
Tempers threatened to boil over with Aberdeen skipper Anthony Stewart given a lecture from the referee after an altercation with United players.
The Dons were beginning to turn the screw with United struggling to get out of their own half.
The large travelling support were screaming for a penalty when a Jayden Richardson shot appeared to be blocked by Ryan Edwards’ arm but nothing was given.
However, the referee did award a penalty in the 73rd minute to United after Ross Mccrorie barged into the back of Sibbald in the Dons box.
Mcgrath stepped up and sent Roos the wrong way from thespot.
Aberdeen’s misery was made complete in the 82nd minute when Mccrorie headed a long ball from Edwards past Roos.