Aberdeen jumped up to fourth in the league after coming back from one down to snatch three points at Dens Park.
Kevin Holt capitalised on some lax defending to fire the hosts ahead inside 15 minutes, but Aberdeen got a quick equaliser thanks to a poor reaction from Scott Bain.
With 13 minutes remaining, and a draw the likely result, substitute Jayden Stockley powered home Jonny Hayes’ cross to give him his first league goal in the red shirt of Aberdeen. Aberdeen then secured the three points as the game came to a close, with Kenny McLean scoring from the spot after Julen’s sloppy challenge on Wes Burns.
The result gave the Dons their first win on the road this season. It also marked just their second win of the campaign as Aberdeen aim to kick-start their stuttering title bid. Dundee, though, are still waiting on their first three points at Dens Park.
Derek McInnes started Adam Rooney alongside Niall McGinn and Jonny Hayes for the first time in the league this season. For Dundee, Darren O’Dea started after recovering from a foot injury.
Anthony O’Connor almost gave Aberdeen a lead within four minutes. The imposing centre-half rose high in the bustling box and nodded the ball back across Scott Bain’s goal. Only Julen’s late intervention stopped it reaching its intended target.
Many of Aberdeen’s early chances were being forged on the left flank. Cammy Kerr struggled against the pacey Hayes, who fired cross-after-cross into the box and continued to get in behind the inexperienced full-back.
But despite controlling the first 12 minutes of the game, Aberdeen soon fell behind to some intricate passing play that sliced the defence open.
Dundee’s first offensive venture proved fruitful. Paul McGowan received the ball on the edge of the D, and he then fed a simple ball into Nick Ross, who had his back to goal. The Dee midfielder took one touch – a slight flick on the inside of his left boot – to send the ball to Kevin Holt, who, unmarked, fired the ball past a helpless Joe Lewis.
It was crucial, though, that Aberdeen didn’t let the setback affect their game. Their reward came just six minutes later.
James Maddison twisted and turned through the crowded midfield to create a little room for himself, and then sent a curling effort towards the bottom left corner. It was a simple enough shot for Scott Bain to stop. However, the goalkeeper took his time getting to ground and let the ball squeeze underneath him to hand the Dons an equaliser.
Aberdeen looked a more energised outfit after recent criticism of their pedestrian attack. Hayes’ sheer pace made him a constant source of frustration for Kerr, and Maddison looked capable of producing something whenever he got on the ball. Other problems, however, were still clear to see.
Dundee’s attacks, although rare, often found huge spaces in dangerous areas. Aberdeen’s defence left noticeable gaps that the Dees exploited.
As half-time approached the hosts were beginning to settle. Faissal El Bakhtaoui kept dropping deep to help his side out in midfield, and his excellent ball control meant the Dons conceded a number of free-kicks attempting to rid him of the ball.
Dundee began the second half as the first had ended. Paul McGowan and Nick Ross stroked the ball about at ease, finding space in the Dons half. The former had the chance to grab a lead after latching on to Andrew Considine’s blind and loose back pass; he reached the ball before O’Connor but rushed his effort and sent the ball in to the side netting.
Graeme Shinnie came within inches of putting the Dons in front soon after. The midfielder drifted through the centre and produced an absolute piledriver that Bain just managed to tip onto the underside of the crossbar.
Although Aberdeen had created the majority of chances, Rooney had a quiet game for the visitors. The striker had taken up good positions but found himself a mere spectator as the game passed him by.
If the game had become more balanced in the second-half, it had also become more niggly. There were a number of bookings after the break for late, albeit unmalicious, challenges.
The contest between Kerr and Hayes had also heated up a little. The young right-back had settled since his early booking, getting the better of Hayes a number of times, and the exasperated Dons winger displayed his frustration with a tackle of his own that earned him a deserved booking.
Bain made a stop that redeemed his earlier mistake on 66 minutes. Maddison got on the end of a nice through ball that eliminated the entire Dundee defence. But as he pulled back his right leg to fire, Bain came rushing out and blocked the ball.
The hosts then had a chance of their own. Mark O’Hara controlled the ball outside the box and hit a side-footed effort that skimmed the top of the Dons crossbar.
One advantage Derek McInnes has is the ability to make changes off the bench. Last season he was often limited to bringing on youth players and second-choice options, something he was able to fix over the summer. That added squad depth had an effect on the result.
With Wes Burns’ introduction, Hayes switched to the right flank. His first involvement on that side was to speed past Holt and deliver a perfect cross to the head of Jayden Stockley, another summer recruit. The behemoth striker had little problem beating Kerr to the ball and thumped it past Bain.
Burns made his impact soon after. He spearheaded a sudden counter-attack and sped past Julen. The Spanish centre-half slid in to rid Burns of the ball and referee Steven MacLean pointed to the spot. Kenny McLean cannoned the ball off the crossbar and in.
Dundee’s afternoon was going from bad to worse. The collapse concluded with the sending off of Mark O’Hara, whose late challenge was deemed enough to warrant a second booking.
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