Dundee United 1 Aberdeen 3 – LIVE updates
Everybody loves a comeback story but this was the same old sinking feeling for Dundee United and Jim Goodwin as a big first day at the office ended in misery.
It was only five weeks ago that he was sacked by Aberdeen in the wake of a 6-0 hammering at the hands of HIbs and there was more pain as his former employers beat his new team 3-1.
Goodwin has been tasked with with rejuvenating Dundee United who are cut adrift at the bottom of the Premiership but this did not get off to a good start. They looked better in attack but again, dreadful defending plagued them once more.
Duk capitalised on a Ryan Edwards error to score the first and Jamie McGrath hit back with a penalty. But there was no reply to Ross McCrorie and Marley Watkins' efforts as Barry Robson made another impressive pitch for the permanent Pittodrie hotseat.
It puts the Dons firmly in the hunt for a European place next season. But amid on and off the pitch upheaval, it's another dismal day for the Tangerines.
Dundee United XI: Birighitti, Freeman, McMann, Edwards, Mulgrew, Behich, Sibbald, Levitt, Harkes, McGrath, Fletcher
Subs: Newman, Graham, Smith, Niskanen, Djoum, A Sadat, Fotheringham, Ayina, MacLeod.
Aberdeen XI: Gorter, McCrorie, Pollock, MacDonald, MacKenzie, Clarkson, Duncan, Ramadani, Shinnie, Lopez, Miovski.
Subs: Lewis, Scales, Markanday, Myslovic, Watkins, Hayes, Coulson, Kennedy, Bavidge.
19:56KEY EVENT
The full-time whistle has gone and it's defeat at home in Jim Goodwin's opener as Dundee United manager.
It's a much needed result for Robson on the road in what is bound to be a boost in his hopes to be the manager permanently.
Their European hopes are given a jolt but relegation fears deepen for United.
19:49Ben Banks
The home stands are emptying as quick as United belief that they can get anything from this.
After a chance to make ground on Kilmarnock and Ross County appeared, United seem to have spurned another chance.
Not the start Goodwin was seeking against former colleagues.
19:46Ben Banks
That was almost a sensational reply by McGrath!
He dribbles via the medium of keepy uppies and fires a good low shot at Gorter.
The Dutchman does well to get down and stop it, which sums up the day for United.
Good play at times, but the end product has been lacking, on top of dismal defending.
19:44KEY EVENT
And that might be that!
Again, Edwards is left worse for where off a defensive error but it's all about Watkins' finish.
He curls it in from the edge of the box, leaving the keeper with no chance and surely sending three points back to Pittodrie.
19:40KEY EVENT
That's a huge moment for the Dons!
He's certainly fighting fit now. A ball across the United danger zone is free of Tangerine shirts and the midfielder is all too happy to step in.
He sweeps home to the bottom corner to spark a big blow into United's hopes of points.
19:39Ben Banks
McCrorie is back to his combative self after his earlier knock.
He goes into a challenge with Behich and cleans the left-back out.
The resulting free-kick causes no dangers as this match enters a tense period
19:33KEY EVENT
From the spot!
Sadat makes an instant impact by getting cleaned out inside the box.
McGrath then steps up and the former St Mirren man scores the first goal of the ex-Buddies boss' reign.
19:32Ben Banks
Harkes is the next off the pitch after going down with an issue.
He is replaced by Djoum and Goodwin also throws on Sadat for Sibbald
19:30Ben Banks
There's one additional change too alongside Pollock coming off for Scales.
Hayes is on to provide experience in place of youngster Duncan.
19:26Ben Banks
There's a clear theme of tactics evolving here as we enter the final 30 minutes.
United are having most of the ball and it is playing out in front of their visitors.
They in turn are happy to hit on the counter with the pace of Duk, with Liam Scales' imminent introduction perhaps a telling sign.
19:23Ben Banks
Unied have come back swinging after the setback.
They claim for a penalty before a dodgy pass allows McGrath to again pick out Fletcher.
He tumbles to the floor as frustrations begins to set in for the home side, who have been much improved from their loss at Ross County last weekend.
Albeit, that doesn't take much doing.
19:16KEY EVENT
Goal to the visitors and a fine one at that from Duk.
It's a shocker again in defence for United as Edwards loses the ball far too easily, but the forward still has so much to do to hold him off.
He does that before a calm and collected back hell finish into the net. Slightly against the run of play but you can't make errors like that.
19:15Ben Banks
A pop on target for the Dons.
Miovski finds himself on the right and sweeps a shot low and into the arms of Birighitti.
Another attempt appears moments later but Ramadani looked to be aiming for Dens Park with his high shot.
19:12Ben Banks
Another teasing ball across by the Aussie international.
This time there are no takers but it's perhaps the best of the lot that just needed a touch to guide it goalwards.
Gorter had vacated his natural position and it's another big Tangerines chance.
19:09Ben Banks
Strong hands from Gorter.
Behich storms down the left and cuts inside to find Fletcher, who guides a header on target.
It's well held by the Dutch stopper.
19:07Ben Banks
First of all, McCrorie sits down in the centre circle as he looks on in discomfort.
Then Gorter comes to clear a long ball and wipes out his own man in Ramadani, leaving him worse for where.
The medical team give him a once-over to make sure he's alright.
19:06Ben Banks
Aberdeen get the ball rolling again here.
Already United have the ball but there's a few shirts in white on the deck.
18:57Ben Banks
Will there be changes from Robson?
His side have had to ride the wave of pressure in that half at times and now need to come out with more energy.
Whether he looks to the bench or not for that remains to be seen.
18:50KEY EVENT
A good half of football in Tayside but there's no goals as of yet.
Fletcher really should have had one early doors and his side have chapped on the door a few times.
Aberdeen haven't had too much their way in front of goal but they'll know of United's frailties in previous encounters.
18:48Ben Banks
A promising area for a free-kick but Aberdeen do very little from 20 yards out.
Clarkson hits it straight into the wall and it fires close to his own half.
His teammates keep it alive but eventually the chance fizzles out.
18:47Ben Banks
There will be two additional minutes at the end of this half.
Much of which is likely from Sibbald's earlier head knock.
18:44Ben Banks
Aberdeen seeing more of the ball in the United half here.
The home side have perhaps just about edged the first 45 to this point but are beginning to drop slightly deeper as it nears its conclusion.
Little danger is coming their way from it, however.
18:41Ben Banks
Miovski will be thinking he should do better there.
A long, diagonal ball from deep finds him in an onside position inside the opposition box.
But his feet are all in a muddle and he fluffs his lines.
18:39Ben Banks
Gorter decides to take on his inner midfielder and go a mazy run before the offside flag appears.
Fletcher appears to be winning the race to the ball and the Ajax loanee wipes him out, before dribbling past a couple players.
Eventually it matters not but certainly got a reaction from both sets of supporters.
18:35Ben Banks
A nasty looking knock for Sibbald, although it's unclear as to how.
His eye looks swollen but he's checked out by the medical department.
Corner to Aberdeen in the meantime goes astray for them.
18:31Ben Banks
New manager bounce? Goodwin will hope it proves to be as his new team put 10 shots the way of the Red goal inside 30 minutes.
But it is yet to bring any reward, with Fletcher's early chance perhaps one to rue come 8pm.
Aberdeen haven't been terrible but Robson will want far more.
18:29Ben Banks
A first test for the under fire United keeper.
The stopper area has been much lamented and Aberdeen look keen to try and expose this, their first corner of the game right on top of the man from down under.
But he does well to claw potential danger away.
18:27Ben Banks
Good header from Ryan Edwards.
Another corner by McGrath is met by a home head and the defender's attempt is on target, but put out for another set-piece.
The next delivery isn't as impactful.
18:26Ben Banks
It seems to be the aerial route that both sides are taking more often that not.
United have had five corners in this one on top of their succesion of corners, which have caused some Dons trouble.
They have been fewer at the other end, but it's how Aberdeen have made their way into the Tangerine danger zone.
18:23Ben Banks
More good play from the home team.
A corner is floated into the box and after a bit of a pinball machine moment, the ball eventually finds its way towards Gorter's goal and is saved.
Decent stuff from the Tangerines alongside limiting their visitors.
