Dundee United 1-1 Aberdeen

Diamond out for two months

The hosts grabbed a point through a late penalty strike from Mark Wilson after this hard-fought contest.

The visitors drew first blood, Darren Mackie converting a long pass from Derek Adams with a left-footed shot in the 6th minute.

United boss Ian McCall was furious after Adams appeared to handle the ball in the build-up to the goal.

But the Tannadice side levelled with the spot-kick after Zander Diamond brought down Colin Samuel in the box.

The Aberdeen supporters travelled to Tayside in their thousands following this season's unbeaten start to their SPL campaign, creating a fantastic atmosphere inside Tannadice.

The Dons, under new manager Jimmy Calderwood, were looking to cement their second place in the table at Dundee United.

United defender Mark Wilson had recovered from a groin injury for the game to boost manager Ian McCall's line-up.

However, striker Jason Scotland, tired after international duty with Trinidad in midweek, dropped out of the side which beat Inverness a fortnight ago and was replaced by James Grady.

Calderwood made two changes from the side which beat Livingston 2-0 two weeks ago.

Midfielder Michael Hart and striker Darren Mackie returned at the expense of Steve Tosh and John Stewart, who both dropped to the bench.

The visitors found the net after only six minutes with Mackie - making his first appearance for the Dons this season - sent into space from a superb long-range Derek Adams ball.

The Pittodrie hitman showed a good turn of pace to beat Mark Kerr's weak challenge in the box and rifled home a left-footed shot from 14 yards.

But Tannadice boss Ian McCall was raging on the touchline after Adams appeared to handle the ball in the build-up to the goal.

Arabs midfielder Barry Robson almost stunned the delighted Dons fans with a leveller minutes later, but his shot from 16 yards flew wide of the post.

The home side grabbed a late equaliser after Mark Wilson converted a penalty in the 83rd minute after substitute Collin Samuel, on for James Grady, lured Zander Diamond into conceding a penalty.

---

Dundee Utd: Bullock, Wilson, McCracken, Innes, Archibald, Kerr (McInnes 45), Brebner, McIntyre, Robson, Dodds (McLaren 66), Grady (Samuel 76). Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Duff, O'Donnell, Gardiner.

Booked: Wilson.

Goals: Wilson 83 pen.

Aberdeen: Preece, McGuire, Anderson, Diamond, McNaughton, Hart, Heikkinen, Severin, Mackie (Stewart 77), Craig (Foster 80), Adams (Tosh 24). Subs Not Used: Esson, Morrison, Tiernan, Muirhead.

Booked: Craig, Tosh, Heikkinen.

Goals: Mackie 7.

Attendance: 10,995

Referee: S Dougal.