Aberdeen 2-2 Dundee United: Diamond endures rough before smooth in a scrappy thriller

Aberdeen 2

Severin 46; Diamond 72

Dundee United 2

Sandaza 11 (pen); Robertson 56

ON A poor pitch, bare, heavy and sodden with sand, there were too many fouls, too many mistakes and what Craig Levein described as a "higgledly- piggedly" Dundee United midfield, but not one of the 14,673 spectators who paid for the privilege had cause for complaint. In the ongoing debate about Scottish football's value for money, triggered by last weekend's Old Firm derby, quality is too often confused with entertainment.

This was a bit of a stinker, but a pleasure to watch. Twice Aberdeen levelled the scoring, although they shouldn't have been behind in the first place. Zander Diamond, whose early blunder had gifted his opponents the lead, was also responsible for the late goal that earned his team a point. That, too, should have been prevented, but in the circumstances, who cared? Neither team have lost ground on Hearts in the race for third.

Between Diamond's efforts at both ends were goals by Scott Severin and David Robertson, a Lee Miller header that hit the bar, and a sparkling return to form for Sone Aluko. United conceded so many fouls that their box seemed to be under permanent siege from the left foot of dead-ball specialist Charlie Mulgrew. All of which meant a busy afternoon for United defender Lee Wilkie, who later confirmed that his troublesome knee will undergo a clean-up operation in the summer.

Levein was happier with the draw than his counterpart, Jimmy Calderwood, whose team have secured only one point from their three matches against United this season. "Every time we play against them, we seem to give them gifts," said Aberdeen's manager, recalling the penalty by which they lost in September and the errors by Diamond and Severin two months later.

Yesterday, Diamond required only a few minutes to make an impact. His failure to execute the simplest of passbacks to goalkeeper Jamie Langfield gave hope to Francisco Sandaza, who nipped in ahead of the big defender and invited a push. The Spaniard collapsed in a heap, referee Willie Collum pointed to the spot, and the fouled striker slammed a rasping penalty high into the net. Diamond was fortunate only to be booked.

Sandaza has scored in all three of United's matches against Aberdeen this season, but yesterday was a slog for the Spaniard. With Warren Feeney playing wide on the left of midfield, he was effectively alone up front, and too removed from the guts of a first half that headed mostly in the other direction. Without the departed Willo Flood and the injured Scott Robertson, United's engine room is not what it used to be, and Aberdeen's pressing game repeatedly caught them in possession.

Miller, with his back to goal, nearly profited. When he turned on a ball dropped into his path by Aluko, his first-time shot dipped over the crossbar. Then his spinning flick over Chris Maguire's head gave the striker a chance from 12 yards, but his shot was delivered at the right height for goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska, who parried comfortably.

If Levein was perturbed by his team's discomfort, he must have been furious shortly after the interval. It is one thing losing your bearings during the ebb and flow of a fluid match, quite another to do so straight from the kick-off. Collum had barely set the second half in motion when Aluko was scampering down the left, exchanging a one-two with Miller, and squeezing past Mihael Kovacevic. Darren Mackie failed to make contact with the cross, and Daniel Grainger's attempted clearance went in off Severin.

The equaliser had an uplifting effect on both teams. Aberdeen, who had started with Miller and Maguire up front, told Mackie to give up his midfield duties and join them in attack. United, too, seemed to open out as play surged manically from end to end. When Sandaza's flick found Feeney just outside the six-yard area, the striker's shot on the run was tipped away by Langfield. Then, when Paul Caddis wriggled free of Mulgrew, the Aberdeen defender was afraid to tackle from behind. The result was a cutback to Robertson, whose firm shot came off both Severin and the crossbar before settling in the back of the net. "Charlie got caught on the byeline," said Calderwood. "For a player like him, that is ridiculous."

Mulgrew, of course, has the kind of delivery that creates confusion in any defence, as even the Old Firm will testify. The inswinging trajectory he has perfected draws defence and goalkeeper together, which is exactly what happened when Zaluska was tempted off his line with 18 minutes left. The goalkeeper was caught in no-man's land, and Diamond rose from a posse of players to head it over the line.



OVERVIEW

MAN OF THE MATCH

Sone Aluko has been through a sticky patch, but his speed of thought and feet yesterday amounted to a reminder of his ability.

QUICK FACT

For a team only recently regarded as the best of the rest, Dundee United's failure to win any of their last five matches is out of character.

TALKING POINT

Zander Diamond's early mistake, and foul on Francisco Sandaza, gave United a penalty, and Aberdeen an uphill struggle.