Dundee United down Dons

Gomis: Decisive goal

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Dundee United claimed a deserved 2-0 win over Aberdeen in wet conditions at Pittodrie thanks to strikes from Damian Casalinuovo and Morgaro Gomis.

The Dons were not short of chances but Fraser Fyvie and Lee Miller were both guilty of missing excellent opportunities

The hosts paid for their poor finishing when Argentinian striker Casalinuovo found the net for the visitors on the half-hour mark.

United midfielder Gomis doubled the lead five minutes later with a smart finish from the edge of the box to condemn Mark McGhee's side to their first home defeat since the opening day of the season.

The Dons tried to assert themselves after the break but never looked like scoring the goal which would have brought them back into the match.

Former Rangers full-back Maurice Ross made his debut for Aberdeen with Jerel Ifil also returning to the heart of the Dons defence.

Dundee United's top scorer Danny Cadamarteri returned, as did midfielder Prince Buaben following his suspension.

Chance

The home side should have taken the lead within 60 seconds of the kick-off when Fyvie latched on to Sean Dillon's header but the16-year-old failed to hit the target with only Nicky Weaver to beat.

Former Everton striker Cadamarteri then turned Ifil with ease at the other end but his smart left-foot effort hit Jamie Langfield's post after nine minutes.

Miller was the next player to spurn a good opportunity when his quick feet created some space but the Dons striker's composure deserted him at the final moment as he lashed a wild effort over the crossbar.

Cadamarteri continued his lively start with a well-struck drive from distance that brought a fine save out of Langfield.

The visitors did take the lead from the resulting set-piece after Garry Kenneth flicked Mark Fotheringham's cross into the path of Casalinuovo, who deflected the ball into the net.

Craig Levein's men doubled their advantage five minutes later when Gomis pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the box and rifled the ball into the bottom corner, giving Langfield no chance.

No way back

Jennison Myrie-Williams almost gave the visitors a third in the opening minute of the second half when he skipped past two players before unleashing a powerful long-range effort that went inches past the post.

McGhee made a double change after 54 minutes with Sone Aluko and Chris Maguire replacing Peter Pawlett and Michael Paton, who had both failed to impose themselves on the game.

Aberdeen were living dangerously and were fortunate not to go further behind when a corner from Myrie-Williams found Kenneth, but his header was sent agonisingly wide after 59 minutes.

A cross from Charlie Mulgrew needed to be pushed over the bar by Weaver for a fruitless corner after as the Dons looked for a way back into the game.

Substitute Aluko could have clawed a goal back for the hosts but his right-foot shot trickled past the post.

Weaver did well to thwart Aberdeen substitute Darren Mackie, who had come on for Richard Foster, in the closing stages.

And there was still time for Miller and Darren Dods to be shown yellow cards following a heated exchange in the United penalty area before the full-time whistle was met with a chorus of boos from the frustrated home fans.