Source: Team_Talk
Losing start for new Dons skipper
Paul Hartley's tenure as Aberdeen captain got off to a disappointing start as the Dons lost 1-0 in Saturday's friendly at Brighton.[LNB] It was Aberdeen's final match of their pre-season tour of England and they went down to one of manager Mark McGhee's former sides.[LNB]Scotland international Hartley, signed in midweek after leaving Bristol City, could not inspire his new team-mates who looked tired and lacklustre as they went down to Elliott Bennett's first-half goal.[LNB]After a slow start, the English League One side could have opened the scoring after 14 minutes.[LNB]Rory McArdle upended Bennett, whose free kick was headed over by former Kilmarnock defender Gordon Greer when he should have tested Dons keeper Mark Howard.[LNB]At the other end, Hartley curled a free-kick just over the bar and two minutes later his cross was glanced wide by McArdle.[LNB]Brighton hit back though, and centre half Tommy Elphick had a good chance to score with a free header from another Bennett cross but Howard saved.[LNB]However, Brighton weren't to be denied and deservedly took the lead in the 38th minute when Bennett picked up the ball at the edge of the box and drove a shot towards goal which Howard failed to stop.[LNB]McGhee made two changes at half time. The welcome return of Peter Pawlett, who came on for Derek Young, and Fraser Fyvie replacing Darren Mackie.[LNB]But it was Brighton who again looked the stronger side and Radostin Kishishev almost scored a wonder goal for his side, striking a volley from the edge of the box that Howard did well to tip over.[LNB]The busy keeper was again the saviour 60 seconds later when Matt Sparrow was played in unmarked at the edge of the box but again Howard saved.[LNB]Jamie Smith crashed a shot off the post and then Bennett should have had his and Brighton's second after he had time to measure his shot from inside the box, but he blazed the ball over.[LNB]And the one-way traffic continued as substitute Glenn Murray missed a great chance after a wonderful cross from Andrew Whing.[LNB]The Dons best effort came in the last minute when a Michael Paton volley sped past the post.
