Francisco Sandaza Gives Dundee United 1-0 Win Over Aberdeen

After seeing that the SPL does not get a lot of coverage here on B/R, I decided to write up a match report on the SPL game that I saw earlier today on Setanta Sports 1, in order to give the SPL more coverage on Bleacher Report.

The match was at Pittodrie, where hosts Aberdeen took on Dundee United.

Action

It was the visitors, Dundee United, that won the game. A coolly slotted penalty from Spanish striker Francisco Sandaza gave Craig Levein's men a 1-0 victory, in a scrappy encounter at Pittodrie.

Perhaps this game isn't the most ideal game to publicise the SPL, as it wasn't a lively one and the first half in particular lacked any real quality.

However, it was only minutes into the second half that the deadlock was broken. Referee Calum Murray pointed to the spot after Craig Conway's corner was met by the hand of Aberdeen's Tommy Wright.

The Spaniard Sandaza stepped up and sent Dons' keeper Jamie Langfield the wrong way to make it 1-0.

Dundee United then continued to be much the better side throughout the second half, and the impressive Sandaza almost carved out a chance for Jon Daly, but the Irish forward saw his acrobatic attempt fly just wide.

Aberdeen raised their game in the final 15 minutes however, but it was not enough as Dundee held on for the win.

Reaction

Dundee United manager Craig Levein was delighted as his side kept their first clean sheet of the season and their first three points. He told Setanta Sports: "I'm thrilled, obviously. I think the result was everything for us today."

"The way the players dug in when we got in front was pleasing to see. We need that sort of determination again in future games.

"I said at the start of the week there was a possibility we’d come here and lose at Pittodrie as it’s always difficult here. Thankfully, we got a win. It was arguable whether either team deserved to win, in all honesty, but we got the break which we haven’t been getting up to now, and I’m grateful, relieved, and the players are delighted with themselves."

Levein also praised United's fancy striker Sandaza, who impressed many with his great forward runs and composure from the penalty spot.

"I thought he did okay again today," said the Dundee manager. "He did some good things, some other things not quite so good, but the longer he plays, the more often he plays, the better he will get.

"As you can see today, he's a threat.

"I thought we were nervous today and didn’t pass the ball as well as we have been doing so it’s pleasing to get a win.

"We did some work during the week on defending, making sure we were tight and solid and, thankfully, we did a lot of work on defending set-pieces. It seemed like they got one set-piece after another so all credit to the lads as they showed great determination.

"We now have a game on Tuesday against Airdrie, who have started the season remarkably well, so we’ll worry about that and see what happens after that."