Dundee United 1-0 Aberdeen: Red card apiece as Harkes gives hosts victory
- Published
Ian Harkes' strike gave Dundee United victory in a fractious New Firm derby
Aberdeen midfielder Funso Ojo was pushed by a home fan and then sent off amid incredible scenes as his side lost to an Ian Harkes goal at Dundee United.
Both sides ended the first half of the Scottish Premiership match with 10 men after Ojo's momentum took him behind the goal where a supporter reached over the barrier to shove him in the chest.
After a brief confrontation, Ojo was shown a second yellow by Bobby Madden, who had dismissed United captain Calum Butcher moments earlier for an off-the-ball incident with Christian Ramirez.
Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass was sent off at half-time for his complaints over Ojo's dismissal, and United snatched a late winner when Harkes lashed home from a corner.
United's first win in four lifts them level on points with third-placed Hearts, while Aberdeen are eighth after successive defeats.
Glass conceded post-match that "by the letter of the law" Madden was right to issue a second yellow to his player.
"He's made a movement to go back, so I think that's why Bobby has chosen to send him off," said the Aberdeen boss. "Funso feels like he has let the team down, which he has a little bit.
"But I don't think our player should have to show restraint. I think the referee is on the pitch to protect the players and he almost incites it a bit as Funso has to walk past them [the United fans] again because he chooses to send him off."
On his own ordering off, Glass added: "The referee told me I was questioning his integrity. I'll get my chance to explain myself at Hampden, I'm sure."
A ferociously competitive contest exploded as half-time approached.
First, Butcher needlessly got involved in a confrontation between team-mate Ryan Edwards and Aberdeen striker Ramirez. Butcher flicked a hand towards Ramirez's genitals and Madden brandished the red card.
Ojo, having been yellow carded earlier, soon followed in controversial circumstances. After the clash with the fan brought a second yellow, he returned to the touchline to remonstrate with supporters and had to be dragged away down the tunnel.
Glass, too, was incensed, and his complaints to Madden earned him a watching brief from the stands for the second half.
The on-field action had provided no such drama, with both sides bogged down in a congested midfield battle.
Dylan McGeouch's terrific block denied United midfielder Jeando Fuchs in the opening minutes, while Kieran Freeman fired wide after latching on to a Jack MacKenzie mistake.
But the visitors were in the ascendancy with Ramirez going closest with an effort that fizzed wide of the far post.
Aberdeen lost MacKenzie - on his comeback from a four-game absence - at the interval after a recurrence of his ankle problem and Jack Gurr also succumbed to a knock after the break in a bruising encounter.
Ryan Hedges ought to have put Glass' men in front, slashing wide at the near post from a Jonny Hayes cutback, while Teddy Jenks was foiled by Benjamin Siegrist's parry.
And United made the visitors pay with an 80th-minute winner. Substitute Louis Appere's shot was touched on to a post by Joe Lewis, but Harkes met the resulting corner with a fine outside-of-the-boot finish.
Man of the match - Ian Harkes
The midfielder (right) provided the game's defining moment of quality
What did we learn?
The fallout from this New Firm derby will rumble on for some time. Ojo's second yellow seemed incredibly harsh - he was the victim rather than aggressor - and ultimately tipped the game in United's favour.
Thomas Courts' men showed grit and determination to grind out the win from there, while Aberdeen's mounting injury problems compounded their miserable day.
What did they say?
Dundee United head coach Thomas Courts: "It was just a five-minute frenzy where there were some crazy things going on. I have nothing to say on the incident [with Ojo] because I don't know what happened.
"My players' togetherness and spirit was excellent and that one bit of quality won it. It was important we got back to winning ways today. Very pleased with the players' clarity when things were getting turbulent."
What's next?
United are away to Ross County in the Premiership next Saturday (15:00 GMT), with Aberdeen the visitors at Celtic 24 hours later.