Dundee’s long wait for a home win over Aberdeen continues after they were beaten by the Dons at Dens Park.
The Dark Blues last emerged victorious on their own pitch against the men in red back on December 18, 2004, when a Neil Barrett goal earned the three points in a 1-0 success.
They fought hard this time and even took the lead through a fine goal from Kevin Holt on 13 minutes.
However, the visitors hit back through James Maddison’s first goal for the Dons just six minutes later.
Dundee had looked vulnerable to cross balls throughout the game and it was because of one that they fell 2-1 behind on 77 minutes as substitute Jayden Stockley headed home after Johnny Hayes had delivered from the right.
With just a couple of minutes remaining, Aberdeen wrapped things up from the spot after Julen Etxabeguren had fouled sub Wes Burns. Kenny McLean found the net via the underside of the bar.
It got worse for the Dens men in stoppage-time when Mark O’Hara was sent off for a second booking.
The big news for the Dark Blues before kick-off was that skipper Darren O’Dea had recovered from injury and took his place at the heart of the defence alongside Etxabeguren, who stepped in for the suspended Kevin Gomis.
Danny Williams found a place in midfield, with striker Craig Wighton dropping down to the bench.
Oor Bobby – the Dark Blues’ latest signing – took pride of place on his bucket just behind the dugouts.
For the Dons, on-loan Norwich City man Maddison came in for his first start after leaving the Canaries, with frontman Burns taking a seat on the bench.
On four minutes, the visitors came close to opening the scoring.
Maddison fired over a corner from the left that had been won by Hayes. Anthony O’Connor met the ball full on with his head but O’Dea was there to stop it hitting the back of the net.
It was a case of lucky 13 for the home team, though, as they took the lead with a terrific goal.
A sweeping, crossfield move saw Nick Ross collect the ball just inside the box before deftly back-heeling it into the path of Holt, who slammed a low shot past Dons keeper Joe Lewis with all the confidence of a skilled striker.
However, the lead didn’t last long as Aberdeen struck back on 19 minutes through the impressive Maddison.
It was his first for the Pittodrie and he deserved it for his bright start but it wasn’t a beauty, with his shot from the edge of the box bouncing in front of keeper Scott Bain before going into the net. The Dundee goalie should have saved it.
Cammy Kerr was getting a tough time of it from Hayes up the Aberdeen left and the young fullback was booked for fouling the wideman as the Dons attacked again.
There was an escape for the hosts on 29 minutes when Adam Rooney brushed off marker O’Dea right in front of goal as the ball came over from McLean but the Irishman sent his header wide when it looked easier to score.
The Dens men were still looking dangerous themselves, though.
They broke upfield on 31 minutes and, after a saving tackle from O’Connor, El Bakhtaoui pounced to curl a shot just past the far post.
Hayes then raised the anger of the home supporters when he executed a bad foul on Kerr, only to escape a booking.
However, Aberdeen’s O’Connor did get a yellow card for pulling back Paul McGowan just before a first half shaded by the Dons came to an end.
Three minutes after the break, Dundee sprung forward after McGowan pounced on a stray pass from O’Connor but the midfielder was pushed too far to the right and his shot went wide.
The Dark Blues had their bar to thank for keeping them level on 54 minutes when Dons captain Graeme Shinnie let fly from outside the box only for the shot to smash against the woodwork and bounce to safety.
After Hayes was finally booked for another foul on Kerr, Dundee had a decent chance on 62 minutes when Tom Hateley floated in a freekick from the right that was met by O’Hara’s head but the ball flew over the bar.
McGowan had a go for the home team from 20 yards but he didn’t quite catch it right before play moved up to the other end and Bain did really well to come out and save at Maddison’s feet.
Faissal El Bakhtaoui fell to the floor inside the box after being the meat in an Aberdeen sandwich on 67 minutes but referee Steven McLean waved play on.
The Dark Blues were on the front foot now and O’Hara spun at the edge of the area before shooting just over the Dons’ bar.
Dundee brought on Wighton and Aberdeen introduced Burns and Stockley as both sides chased a winner.
It was the visitors who got their noses in front, with Stockley nodding into the net off a Hayes cross just two minutes after replacing Rooney.
The Aberdeen penalty came two minutes from time, with McLean’s kick making it into the net after hitting the underside of the bar.
Dundee’s bad day was completed when O’Hara, who had been booked on 64 minutes for a foul on Maddison, was sent off for a second yellow after challenging Shinnie.
Attendance: 6,321.
Dundee: Bain, Holt, O’Dea, Hateley (Loy 87), Williams (Wighton 69), O’Hara, Etxabeguren, Ross (Duffy 81), McGowan, El Bakhtaoui, Kerr. Subs not used: Mitchell, Vincent, Low, Gadzhalov.
Aberdeen: Lewis, Logan, Taylor, Considine, O’Connor, Shinnie, McLean, McGinn (Burns 75), Hayes, Rooney (Stockley 75), Maddison (Storie 82). Subs not used: Alexander, Reynolds, Pawlett, Storey.
Referee: Steven McLean.
