Aberdeen ‘in trouble’ after defeat by Dundee

Leven post DundeeStruggling Aberdeen are “in trouble”, says interim manager Peter Leven, after defeat by Dundee left them three points above the Scottish Premiership relegation play-off spot.

Luke McCowan’s penalty gave Dundee a deserved victory at Dens Park and moved them back into the top six.

Aberdeen, who were playing their first game since Neil Warnock’s surprise departure on Saturday, are now 11 league games without victory.

“We look nervous, we look panicky on the ball,” said Leven. “We’ve won games in Europe and the cups and then inconsistent form in the league has killed us this season.

“We’ve got a massive game [against Motherwell] on Saturday but the games are running out.”

Dundee’s spot-kick was awarded for handball against Jack MacKenzie following a VAR review after Scott Tiffoney, Lyall Cameron and Owen Dodgson had all threatened an opener as the hosts tried to force the issue.

The win meant Dundee and Hibernian – who conceded a last-gasp equaliser at Ross County – swapped places with four rounds of fixtures until the split.

Aberdeen were too often overrun in midfield and passive in attack, particularly in the opening period. Eleventh-place County’s point shortens the gap between them and the Dons.

Reaction & as it happenedKeep up to date with DundeeThe latest Aberdeen newsAberdeen had started tentatively in their previous game under Leven against Celtic in early February and so it proved again as Dundee’s Tiffoney tested goalkeeper Kelle Roos early on.

Roos made a brave block to deny Cameron and had to look sharp again to tip over Dodgson’s strike from distance. Aberdeen then had to get bodies in the way to block efforts by McCowan and Tiffoney.

And, as half-time neared, Cameron came close with Dundee’s best opportunity yet, latching on to a loose ball and flashing a shot wide.

The visitors improved after the break without seriously troubling keeper Jon McCracken.

McCowan’s delivery into the box put Aberdeen under pressure and Tiffoney eventually fired against the post but VAR advised a second look for referee Steven McLean.

The ball did appear to catch MacKenzie’s arm on the way down after he, Angus MacDonald and Dundee’s Antonio Portales tried to meet Joe Shaughnessy’s headed pass from the right. McCowan took responsibility and sent Roos the wrong way.

Cameron almost put the game beyond Aberdeen when he swept a shot wide of the left-hand post and both he and Main tested Roos with the Dons continually stretched.

Aberdeen could not carve a big moment to change the result as they sustained a ninth league loss on the road this season.

Player of the match – Luke McCowanThe winger was a persistent threat before and after his penaltyAberdeen plight deepens as Dundee claim deserved win – analysisWarnock’s whirlwind spell in charge of Aberdeen lasted eight games, including two cup wins and none in the league. The overall stats do not make good reading for the Dons with 0.93 points per league game after 29 fixtures.

Leadership is needed both on and off the pitch with a relegation fight an increasing prospect following County’s late equaliser at home to Hibs. Aberdeen also have a Scottish Cup semi-final with holders Celtic on the horizon.

Bojan Miovski was too isolated in attack but still managed to create openings and win set-pieces for his side. Servicing and supporting the prolific striker will be crucial if Leven or his successor are to make something of the season.

Dundee showed far more hunger on the night and got the full reward of three points. They maintained their intent after Aberdeen started to show ambition and in the wake of the goal. A home win always looked the most likely result.

What the managers saidManager Docherty praises ‘outstanding’ DundeeDundee manager Tony Docherty: “Absolutely delighted. I’m really proud of the players, I thought the level of performance was outstanding. We created so many opportunities.

“At half-time, I just said to the boys to continue that play and the law of averages is we’ll get that opportunity to go and score. There was a real mentality about them to make sure we saw the game out and got all three points. That pleases me most.”

Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven: “Not good enough. Started poor. Our passing was poor, decision-making was really poor. We never picked up second balls. Second half, started bright, created a few chances and obviously the VAR decision went against us and it just killed us.”

What’s next?Aberdeen are away to Motherwell on Saturday (15:00 GMT) with Dundee’s weekend Premiership fixture at home to Rangers on Sunday (12:00).

Line-upsDundeeFormation 3-5-2

22McCracken29Portales5Shaughnessy25Donnelly44CostelloeSubstituted forLamieat 90+2’minutes10Cameron28Sylla17McCowanBooked at 90mins3Dodgson8MainBooked at 90mins7TiffoneySubstituted forRobertsonat 90+2’minutesSubstitutes1Legzdins4Astley9Bakayoko12Lamie19Robertson23Boateng26Mellon30SharpAberdeenFormation 4-2-3-1

24Roos2Devlin6Gartenmann27MacDonald3MacKenzie8BarronSubstituted forSoklerat 80’minutes4Shinnie7McGrathBooked at 83mins18PhillipsSubstituted forClarksonat 71’minutes30HoilettSubstituted forHenriques de Barros Lopesat 60’minutes9MiovskiSubstitutes5Jensen10Clarkson11Henriques de Barros Lopes15McGarry19Sokler21Polvara23Duncan28Milne31DoohanReferee:Steven McLean

Attendance:8,215

Match StatsLive TextMatch ends, Dundee 1, Aberdeen 0.

Second Half ends, Dundee 1, Aberdeen 0.

Offside, Aberdeen. Duk is caught offside.

Attempt blocked. Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Attempt saved. Ester Sokler (Aberdeen) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Leighton Clarkson with a cross.

Luke McCowan (Dundee) is shown the yellow card.

Curtis Main (Dundee) is shown the yellow card.

Foul by Curtis Main (Dundee).

Jack MacKenzie (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Dundee. Finlay Robertson replaces Scott Tiffoney.

Substitution, Dundee. Ricki Lamie replaces Dara Costelloe.

Curtis Main (Dundee) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Jack MacKenzie (Aberdeen).

Attempt saved. Ester Sokler (Aberdeen) with an attempt from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Leighton Clarkson with a cross.

Attempt blocked. Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ester Sokler.

Attempt saved. Curtis Main (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Attempt saved. Lyall Cameron (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Aaron Donnelly.

Attempt blocked. Owen Dodgson (Dundee) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Attempt blocked. Scott Tiffoney (Dundee) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke McCowan.

Foul by Dara Costelloe (Dundee).

Player of the match

CameronLyall Cameron

with an average of 8.80

Squad number10Player nameCameron

Squad number28Player nameSylla

Squad number29Player namePortales

Squad number17Player nameMcCowan

Squad number22Player nameMcCracken

Squad number7Player nameTiffoney

Squad number44Player nameCostelloe

Squad number25Player nameDonnelly

Squad number3Player nameDodgson

Squad number8Player nameMain

Squad number5Player nameShaughnessy

Squad number12Player nameLamie

Squad number19Player nameRobertson

AberdeenSquad number3Player nameMacKenzie

Squad number24Player nameRoos

Squad number27Player nameMacDonald

Squad number7Player nameMcGrath

Squad number30Player nameHoilett

Squad number4Player nameShinnie

Squad number9Player nameMiovski

Squad number18Player namePhillips

Squad number6Player nameGartenmann

Squad number19Player nameSokler

Squad number2Player nameDevlin

Squad number8Player nameBarron

Squad number10Player nameClarkson

Squad number11Player nameDuk