Dundee Utd 0 Aberdeen 2

Last updated : 08 August 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Dundee United will be glad to pull down the curtain on a disappointing season after an appalling display at Tannadice.

Manager Ian McCall, who in his after match speech to the fans promised to radically change his side, will have not have been convinced many of his current cohorts would be worth retaining.

Aberdeen meanwhile looked like at team bursting with enthusiasm. After a succession of victories, winning five out of their last six, the visitors began in a confident manner.

They carved out the first opportunity as early as the third minute when a weaving run from Scott Morrison ended with the unmarked Darren Mackie weakly heading down and into the arms of Alan Combe.

But despite the pressure, it took 15 minutes for another opening appeared. Steven Tosh created space on the right before Leigh Hinds shot on the turn flew wide.

With twenty minutes approaching, the Tangerines, at last found their rhythm. Excellent footwork on the right set up Danny Griffin's cross which was touched on by Jim McIntyre for Billy Dodds to nod just over.

Hope was short lived as Aberdeen continued to dominate the midfield without really threatening United's goal until five minutes from the break. Hinds set up Paul Sheerin with a clever ball over the top but the midfielder wasted the chance, pulling his shot wide from 12 yards.

The second period resumed with Aberdeen continuing to dominate and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring six minutes after the interval. Morrison teased Stuart Duff on the left flank before curling a cross for Mackie to jump between David McCracken and Gary Bollan and head past the flaying arms of Combe from eight yards.

It was game over when the Dons extended their lead three minutes later with a gift from Combe.

Tosh gathered the ball just inside his own half and brushed past Mark Wilson and Daniel Ogunmade before unleashing his shot straight at the keeper. For some reason, the goalkeeper took his eye off the ball allowing it to go straight through his arms and gently drop into the net.

In many ways it typified United's season.