Scottish Premier League - Saturday 21st August 2010
McDiarmid Park, Perth
Aberdeen made it two wins out of two this afternoon as a late Darren Mackie strike earned the Dons all three points from difficult game in Perth.
An impressive 3200 Dandies took over McDiarmid Park, and watched on as a stubborn St Johnstone side seemed to have done enough to take a point. With four minutes left though, substitute Mackie popped up to snatch victory for the visitors.
The first chance of the day fell to the home side. Marcus Haber broke down the left in the 12th minute, and sent a dangerous low ball into the box. Only a trademark Zander Diamond last-ditch challenge prevented Sam Parkin having a tap-in at the near post.
The big defender almost put Aberdeen ahead two minutes later; Diamond getting on the end of a Paul Hartley corner, and heading over when he should really have done better.
In the 17th minute, Mark Howard fumbled a catch under pressure in a crowded box. After a scramble, the ball fell to former Don Kevin Rutkiewicz who had time to pick his spot from seven yards out, but somehow managed to miss the target completely.
Neither team was able to gain control of the game with chances few and far between. Bebo Maguire sprinted down the right in the 33rd minute, leaving his man for dead he tried to play in Magennis but could only find Duberry. However, the Saints defender only succeeded in giving the ball straight back to Maguire, who cut inside and tested Enckelman with a low drive.
Two minutes later, Aberdeen thought they had taken the lead. Hartley whipped in a free kick that Andrew Considine got a head onto, touching it past the keeper into the net. Referee Steve McLean had other ideas though, ruling the goal out due to a supposed foul as the ball came in.
Seconds later, former Dons loanee Alan Maybury’s clearance was charged down by Folly, Magennis pounced on the loose ball and almost managed to fire home from a tight angle. In stoppage time at the end of the half, Haber got his head onto a Grainger long throw, forcing a great reaction save from Mark Howard.
The 56th minute saw Aluko play a good ball over the top for Pawlett. The youngster then cut inside his man and attempted to curl one into the top corner, unfortunately sending his effort over the bar.
In the 58th minute Aberdeen were claiming for a penalty. Maguire looked to have been tripped as he ran into the box, but the referee was not interested. Three minutes later, a neat passing move from St Johnstone culminated in a Millar shot from 25 yards, he could not trouble Howard though, who made the save easily.
There was a tasty moment when tempers flared in the 62nd minute, after Hartley and Davidson clashed heads in midfield. Several players took offense but the referee was quick to intervene; Hartley was booked for the initial challenge, and Morris shown yellow for his part in the handbags which followed. Both managers also received a talking to. Considine then went in the book a minute later for a rash challenge, as the game threatened to boil over.
The winning goal came in the 86th minute. Aluko showed real enthusiasm to charge down Maybury’s clearance, and then to keep the ball in play on the right. The Nigerian then had the composure to pick out Darren Mackie in the middle, whose shot squirmed through the defenders legs and trickled into the bottom corner. To the delight of the hoardes of travelling Dons fans, Aberdeen saw out the remaining minutes with relative ease to secure the win.
So, another three points put Aberdeen back on top on the SPL. This was the type of game that we were losing last season, while the performance was not of the same standard as last week, it is a good sign that we are winning ugly again.
To be able to dig out results in games like this is imperative to success. While the football wasn’t quite as pretty, the hunger, effort, and camaraderie of the players carried on from last week.
Alloa on Tuesday will prove a real test of how much things have changed since last season. A win there would stand us in good stead for a very winnable game at home to Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Without getting too carried away, potentially we could go into the forthcoming Dundee United game in a very strong position. In the meantime, it's good to be sitting up top looking down...
Ronaldanho
Danny McKay won RedTV's Junior Reporter competition: click here
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