Aberdeen 3-0 Dundee Utd

Aberdeen were well worthy of their victory

Aberdeen belied their lowly league position by taking apart in-form Dundee United at Pittodrie with three first-half goals.

Striker Leigh Hinds' drive gave the Dons an early lead.

Defender Phil McGuire headed the second and midfielder Paul Sheerin slotted home the third, United being made to pay for poor defending.

Hinds came close again after the break as United suffered a blow to their hopes of finishing in the top six.

United boss Ian McCall had remained loyal to the 11 players who beat Motherwell last weekend, striker Jason Scotland being left on the bench despite two goals in as many games.

Aberdeen made two changes, Michael Hart was replaced by Kevin Rutkiewicz in defence, while David Zdrilic returned up front in place of Bryan Prunty.

Two fine saves by Scotland goalkeeper Paul Gallacher prevented the Dons going ahead, smothering Sheerin's 18-yard volley then pushing away a 25-yard drive from Tosh.

Aberdeen took the lead in the 21st minute, when Hinds bolted on to a long ball played by Phil McGuire and, after dragging McCracken wide, slipped a shot past Gallacher into the far corner.

Paul Sheerin completed the scoring for the Dons

They went further ahead three minutes later, when McGuire, aided by some terrible defending, was left free to nod Scott Morrison's corner past Gallacher from six yards.

A Hinds header just evaded the post before the Dons went three ahead just before the break.

Sheerin ran into the area to collect Zdrilic's slightly mishit pass before slotting it past the goalkeeper.

Unhappy McCall replaced Andy McLaren, Jim McIntyre and Mark Kerr with Scotland, Billy Dodds and Collin Samuel within the first 20 minutes of the second half.

But it was Aberdeen who came close to extending their lead, with a rasping shot by Hinds from the edge of the area that smacked off the crossbar.

Zdrilic also hit the woodwork with a well-struck free-kick that had Gallacher scrambling.

The Australian striker missed a simple opportunity from a few yards out, but a good day for the Dons was soured when McGuire was carried off injured right on the final whistle following a clash with Scotland.

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Aberdeen: Preece, Rutkiewicz, McGuire, Diamond, Morrison, Tosh, Heikkinen, Sheerin, Hinds, Zdrilic, Muirhead. Subs: Esson, Prunty, Souter, Stewart, Buckley.

Dundee United: Gallacher, Wilson, McCracken, Innes, Archibald, Kerr, McInnes, Miller, Robson, McIntyre, McLaren. Subs: Jarvie, Scotland, Dodds, Easton, Samuel.

Referee: I Fyfe