Aberdeen 1 Dunfermline 2

Last updated : 27 August 2003 By Footymad Previewer

The Dons had a dismal start to the season and it continued this afternoon as they went down 2-0.

What will concern manager, Steve Paterson most will be the manner in which the three points were lost. After a bright opening 20 minutes which saw David Zdrilic give them the lead, the defence again showed a distinct lack of understanding and Dunfermline capitalised on defensive errors to run out narrow victors.

The early exchanges were mainly confined to midfield with neither side finding fluency.

However on eight minutes Phil McGuire's ball up the line was flicked on by Scott Booth to Paul Sheerin whose first-time shot from 25 yards was brilliantly turned over the bar by Derek Stillie.

The Dons superiority at this time gave them a deserved lead on 22 minutes when Sheerin and Booth combined to release Zdrillc inside the area, the big Aussie striker steadied himself before driving the ball past the despairing keeper.

At the other end McGuire did well to deflect a Barry Nicholson ball away at the expense of a corner with Craig Brewster narrowly missing the goal.

The Dons failed to learn their lesson as the visitors drew level at 30 minutes, Stevie Crawford wriggled clear of McGuire at the touchline before firing in a cross which Brewster who fired it in at eight yards.

The home side were dealt a double body blow either side of half time as both Zdrilic and Booth had to come off injured, being replaced by Leigh Hinds and Scott Muirhead.

Dreadful defending by the Dons gifted the Pars the lead on 56 minutes. David Preece's poor clearance reached Markus Heikkinen who tried to lay the ball back to James McQuilken, but this was intercepted by Crawford who sent Nicholson clear of the Dons defence before rifling home from 12 yards.

In a desperate attempt to get back into the game Paterson moved centre-back so McGuire up front for the last 20 minutes.

The Dons almost hauled themselves level after 84 minutes when Sheerin knocked the ball on to Kevin McNaughton whose angled drive flew narrowly over from 24 yards.

Then Eric Deloumaeux's fierce shot was only partially blocked by Stillie into the path of Heikkinen, who slid the ball home only for the goal to be marked off for offside.