Dundee Utd 2-0 Aberdeen: Dons' miserable start to season continues as home side move third

[ad_1] Dundee United moved as much as third within the Scottish Premiership and heaped main strain on Aberdeen supervisor Jimmy Thelin with a 2-0 win over the Dons at Tannadice.

Objectives both facet of half-time from Ivan Dolcek and Bert Esselink left Aberdeen rooted to the underside of the desk with no objective in 5 matches.

Thelin had demanded his facet carry out the basics of soccer higher after Saturday's League Cup defeat by Motherwell however they had been in the end undone by two aerial balls and will have conceded extra as United moved above Hibernian within the desk.

<img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/768x432/skysports-dolcek-dundee-utd_7029977.jpg?20250923233904" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/384x216/skysports-dolcek-dundee-utd_7029977.jpg?20250923233904 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/768x432/skysports-dolcek-dundee-utd_7029977.jpg?20250923233904 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/1600x900/skysports-dolcek-dundee-utd_7029977.jpg?20250923233904 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/2048x1152/skysports-dolcek-dundee-utd_7029977.jpg?20250923233904 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Ivan Dolcek put Dundee United ahead at Tannadice Park" data-testid="article-image-image"/> Picture: Ivan Dolcek put Dundee United forward at Tannadice Park Stuart Armstrong hit the bar for the guests and Jesper Karlsson pressured two saves however there was no sustained menace from Thelin's facet as they suffered a sixth defeat in 9 matches this season.

Aberdeen have now gained simply 5 of their final 32 league video games and Thelin would possibly properly have run out of credit score with the Dons board following the membership's Scottish Cup triumph in Might. The United followers definitely thought in order they chanted "sacked within the morning".

<img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/768x432/skysports-aberdeen-shinnie_7029983.jpg?20250923234549" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/384x216/skysports-aberdeen-shinnie_7029983.jpg?20250923234549 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/768x432/skysports-aberdeen-shinnie_7029983.jpg?20250923234549 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/1600x900/skysports-aberdeen-shinnie_7029983.jpg?20250923234549 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/2048x1152/skysports-aberdeen-shinnie_7029983.jpg?20250923234549 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Aberdeen have made their worst start to a season in 26 years" data-testid="article-image-image"/> Picture: Aberdeen have made their worst begin to a season in 26 years The Aberdeen followers stuffed the 'Shed' finish at Tannadice and gave their staff main backing for the primary half whereas latching on to transient indicators of a resurgence within the second interval.

However some followers vented their anger after the break and the Aberdeen board will seemingly be heading into disaster talks forward of Saturday's journey to Motherwell.

Thelin made three adjustments in midfield with captain Graeme Shinnie amongst these dropping to the bench however United began on the entrance foot and Will Ferry was near changing Zac Sapsford's pushed ball throughout the face of objective.

Karlsson despatched a free header broad and compelled a save however many of the first-half strain was on the different finish. Dimitar Mitov saved properly from Sapsford's deflected effort and Esselink headed broad from a nook.

Mitov saved a one-on-one from Dolcek after Sapsford did brilliantly to set his strike companion up on the break, though the Australian was handed a yellow card and penalised for a foul on Sivert Nilsen after referee Steven McLean delayed his resolution.

The opener got here within the forty fifth minute as Dolcek fired his fifth objective of the Premiership season into the underside nook from 18 yards after a header fell into his path.

<img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/768x432/skysports-dundee-utd-dolcek_7029980.jpg?20250923234200" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/384x216/skysports-dundee-utd-dolcek_7029980.jpg?20250923234200 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/768x432/skysports-dundee-utd-dolcek_7029980.jpg?20250923234200 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/1600x900/skysports-dundee-utd-dolcek_7029980.jpg?20250923234200 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/2048x1152/skysports-dundee-utd-dolcek_7029980.jpg?20250923234200 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Dolcek has scored five goals in five league games since joining in the summer" data-testid="article-image-image"/> Picture: Dolcek has scored 5 objectives in 5 league video games since becoming a member of in the summertime Nicolas Milanovic curled broad as Aberdeen tried to combat again within the second half however they had been two down inside 5 minutes when the unmarked Esselink headed dwelling from six yards after Vicko Sevelj had flicked on a nook.

The sport threatened to spiral additional out of Aberdeen's attain. Mitov parried properly from Dolcek, Krisztian Keresztes fired into the facet internet from 20 yards, a number of blocks prevented United from hitting the goal in a spell of sustained strain and Sevelj shot simply broad from lengthy vary.

There have been indicators of a rally as Armstrong hit the crossbar from 25 yards and Yevhenii Kucherenko denied Karlsson together with his ft from the rebound.

However Aberdeen couldn't critically threaten to interrupt their Premiership duck once more and Thelin and his gamers stood and surveyed the scene of a half-empty away stand largely displaying their anger after the ultimate whistle.

Thelin: We now have nothing to lose <div class="sdc-article-widget sdc-site-video sdc-article-widget callfn" data-account-id="6057984924001" data-amp-iframe-embed="" data-asset-id="586acc01-fcd6-4d38-b085-c89231192b02" data-asset-path="" data-asset-version="" data-autoplay="false" data-auth-config="{"url":"https://api.condatis.sky/auth/video/token","tokenRequired":true,"fetchMethod":"url","fetchOptions":{"encoded":true},"headers":{"X-SkyGDP-Proposition":"sportweb","X-SkyGDP-Territory":"GB","Authorization":"OGY5ZDgxZjRhNzYwNGQ3MTljMjFhMDJlOGVmODRhYzA="}}" data-caption="Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin speaks about his future at the club following their 2-0 defeat at Dundee Utd" data-clip-type="" data-component-name="sdc-site-video" data-component-name-alias="ui-sitewide-video" data-competition="" data-copy-url-text="URL copied to clipboard" data-fn="sdc-site-video" data-id="id_586acc01-fcd6-4d38-b085-c89231192b02" data-is-live-stream="false" data-lite="true" data-options="" data-originator-id="49" data-originator-handle="brightcove-sport-gb" data-package-name="" data-provider="brightcove" data-player-id="DESF5xFjJ" data-playsinline="" data-sensitive="" data-sdc-id="7029929" data-sdc-video-id="586acc01-fcd6-4d38-b085-c89231192b02" data-sport-category="" data-state="loading" data-token-state="none" data-video-ad-unit="videoplayer" data-video-blacklisted-originator-ids="" data-video-id="ref:586acc01-fcd6-4d38-b085-c89231192b02" data-video-type="" data-auto-pause-on-not-visible="" tabindex="-1" data-closed-captions-position="" data-show-closed-captions="true" data-show-pip="" data-show-live-stream-scrubber="" data-autoload="" data-testid="sitewide-video"> Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

<img loading="lazy" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/768x432/skysports-thelin-aberdeen_7029944.jpg?20250923223847" alt="DUNDEE, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Aberdeen Head Coach Jimmy Thelin at Full Time during a William Hill Premiership match between Dundee United and Aberdeen at The CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park, on September 23, 2025, in Dundee, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/768x432/skysports-thelin-aberdeen_7029944.jpg?20250923223847 600w,https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/1600x900/skysports-thelin-aberdeen_7029944.jpg?20250923223847" aria-hidden="true" class="sdc-site-video__poster-img excluded-image" data-testid="sitewide-video-poster"/> Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin speaks about his future on the membership following their 2-0 defeat at Dundee Utd Following the defeat, Thelin claimed they can't droop any decrease and advised his gamers they now have "nothing to lose" after they journey to Motherwell on Saturday, seven days after being knocked out of the Premier Sports activities Cup by the Steelmen.

After going through the anger of the visiting followers after the sport, Thelin stated: "We really feel the identical, we really feel anger, we really feel frustration. However the one method to repair that is to step up and do a lot, a lot, significantly better on Saturday.

"You may't cover. In the direction of the top some gamers had been stepping out and displaying extra. We begin creating extra however at first we had been fairly stiff as a staff.

"You see Stuart Armstrong, he performs with expertise, he needs the ball. When he misses a cross he takes the ball once more and finds his composure as a participant.

"On Saturday we now have nothing to lose, we now have every part to win and we now have to have this sense as a staff. As a result of proper now we're enjoying somewhat bit too stiff due to the strain round us.

"Now we're final within the desk, we now have one level, zero objectives, so you don't have anything to lose. It's a must to step out on the pitch and play a lot, rather more with out this rigidity.

"The followers, we do not reside as much as expectations proper now, so we're already there, all-time low. The one factor we are able to do is do higher, so we will not go deeper now, we now have to go higher and that is why you may hopefully get this rigidity out out of your physique."

On the followers' response, he added: "Whenever you see the feelings, you see the anger, you see the frustration, after all it hurts you.

"However the one factor to present one thing again is to do a greater efficiency. As a supervisor and as a staff, our job is to place a smile on the faces of the followers."

Goodwin praises 'nice resilience' <img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/768x432/skysports-goodwin-jim-dundee-utd_7029978.jpg?20250923233942" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/384x216/skysports-goodwin-jim-dundee-utd_7029978.jpg?20250923233942 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/768x432/skysports-goodwin-jim-dundee-utd_7029978.jpg?20250923233942 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/1600x900/skysports-goodwin-jim-dundee-utd_7029978.jpg?20250923233942 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/09/2048x1152/skysports-goodwin-jim-dundee-utd_7029978.jpg?20250923233942 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Jim Goodwin's Dundee United are up to third in the Scottish Premiership" data-testid="article-image-image"/> Picture: Jim Goodwin's Dundee United are as much as third within the Scottish Premiership United supervisor Jim Goodwin confronted that very same anger two and a half years in the past earlier than being sacked by the Dons and he admitted he had feared his former membership's fortunes would flip at Tannadice.

"I do know what the person goes by and I sympathise with any supervisor in that state of affairs," he stated.

"We had been all speaking about Hibs and David Grey final 12 months after they had been backside. David discovered a method to get a tune out of the staff.

"Aberdeen have invested properly, they spent a fortune in the summertime, and that is why I used to be a wee bit nervous coming into this sport as a result of the run cannot proceed with the standard they've.

"We had been on a little bit of a hiding to nothing however I am certain Jimmy will respect my concern is not Aberdeen."

Goodwin, whose facet moved as much as third, added: "Consistency within the 11 was vital however this was in all probability essentially the most comfy we have felt for a variety of weeks.