[DavidMc]

Aberdeen 2-0 Gretna

Aberdeen secured their first home win of the season with a reasonably comfortable victory over Gretna.
Two goals in the space of two first-half minutes from a Zander Diamond header and Jamie Smith sealed the points at Pittodrie.

The Dons could have added to their lead in the opening period but Gretna weathered the storm and improved after the break and had decent chances.

Fabian Yantorno missed from close-range in the borderers best opportunity.

Aberdeen brought back Zander Diamond at the expense of Ricky Foster in the only change from the side that defeated Partick Thistle in the CIS Cup in midweek.

The Black and Whites rung the changes after their heavy CIS defeat in Inverness as David Cowan, Chris Innes, Paul Murray, Gavin Skelton, Yantorno and Nicky Deverdics all came back in.

The Dons grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck from the start as Jamie Smith tried his luck with a free-kick and Jeffrey de Visscher chipped straight at Greg Fleming.

It was no surprise when the Dons took the lead as Diamond looped a header over Fleming and into the net.

The lead was doubled within a minute as Smith coolly slotted passed Fleming after charging down a Chris Innes clearance.

Aberdeen continued to dominate possession but failed to add to their lead before the break.

The tempo of the match slowed down into the second-half as Gretna began to come back into the game.

The Dons - without a home win before kick-off and with the Uefa Cup return against Dnipro to come on Thursday - seemed content with the 2-0 scoreline as Darren Mackie replaced de Visscher after injury.


Eric Paartalu and Paul Murray try and stop Lee Miller

This proved to be a dangerous way of thinking as Gretna threatened to get on the scoresheet thanks to some poor Aberdeen defending.

In a spirited second-half performance, Colin McMenemin, David Cowan and Yantorno all tested the Dons rearguard without really looking like scoring.

Yantorno blazed over from 12-yards after finding himself without a marker in space in what proved to be the visitors best chance.

Aberdeen were far from convincing in the second-half as they failed to really threaten Fleming's goal and will have to improve if their dreams of a place in the Uefa Cup group stages are to be realised.

For Gretna, the only way is up as they drop to the bottom of the SPL with a visit from league-leaders and champions Celtic up next.



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Aberdeen: Langfield, Severin, Diamond, Considine, Hart, Nicholson, Clark (Mair 76), Young, de Visscher (Mackie 63), Jamie Smith, Miller. Subs not used: Soutar, Foster, Touzani, Daniel Smith, Maguire.

Bookings: Miller.

Goals: Diamond 16, Jamie Smith 18.

Gretna: Fleming, Cowan (Grady 80), Innes, Collin, Horwood, Murray, Paartalu, Skelton, Jenkins (Buscher 79), Yantorno, Deverdics (McMenamin 38). Subs not used: Scott, Barr, Hogg, Graham.

Bookings: Collin, Horwood, Yantorno.

Att: 10279