Match Report

Aberdeen deservedly beat Hamilton in a very disappointing Pittodrie encounter, much of the game was spoiled as a spectacle due to a swirling wind and a poor playing surface.

Neither side coped well with the conditions, which meant entertaining football from the likes of Sone Aluko and Jamie Smith for Aberdeen and James McArthur and James McCarthy was rarely in evidence.

Hamilton opened the brighter of both teams, however, despite having most of the territorial advantage, failed to trouble Jamie Langfield in the home goal.

Aberdeen's first concerted attack came within ten minutes. Jamie Smith played a clever ball into the channel, picking out the run of Tommy Wright.

The big striker took a neat touch before swivelling and firing in his right-foot shot which was blocked away by Martin Canning.

The home side opened the scoring after 27 minutes.

Smith and Canning clashed as they went for a loose ball in midfield, the ball sat up nicely for Chris Maguire who didn't hesitate to smash in with tremendous first-time effort which flew into the corner of the net, giving Tomas Cerny in the Hamilton goal no chance.

The Dons ought to have scored again minutes later. Aluko timed his run off the right wing to perfection as he raced on to a throughball from Scott Severin.

The diminutive wideman raced down on goal, from the edge of the area. His first effort was blocked by Cerny, the ball breaking back to Aluko, this time Mark McLaughlin was on hand to clear the danger.

Aberdeen's defence had a major let-off in 36 minutes, indecision by Javan Vidal allowed the ball to slip away from the full-back.

This presented Paul McGowan with a great chance, but from ten yards he screwed his right-foot shot horribly wide.

The Dons defence almost committed football suicide on the re-start.

A long ball out of defence from McCarthy saw Alexander Diamond leave the ball for his keeper, only for Langfield to clear the danger at the second attempt after Joel Thomas had charged down his first effort.

On 62 minutes second-half sub Richard Foster played the ball up to Aluko, who in turn, knocked the ball on to Wright; he took an excellent first touch before blazing widely over from 20 yards.

Foster was again prominent after 71 minutes.

He and Smith combined for the latter to clip a delightful ball up to the far post which found the head of Maguire, his headed effort looked goalbound until Cerny brilliantly parried over the crossbar at the expense of a corner.

Maguire looked lively again on 87 minutes, cleverly turning away from Cerny before driving down on goal where he fired in a fierce 22-yard left-foot effort which was held at the second attempt by Cerny.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides