Away points are never bad, and especially after last week's mess at Tannadice, it was reassuring to make it through the opening ten minutes with a clean sheet. Jamie Murphy did give the home side the lead after banging home a pass from Nick Blackman, ten minutes before the break, but Scott Vernon scored eleven minutes after the break to pull the Dons even.
The uncharitable could argue that Vernon should have had a brace or even a hat trick, as he bungled a chance to equalize just before the break, and also had a missed chance at a winner. Three minutes before the half Vernon found himself in the host's box with only the keeper Randolph to beat, but missed the target, and late in the second half headed into side netting... but this paragraph is for the pessimists. On the whole I was encouraged by the visitor's response to last weekend's disappointment, and while yes three points would have been nice, the Dons managed several threats to the Well goal and while they stayed out this match, maybe next time they won't.
Maguire continues his strong play, with incisive runs and good vision to set up teammates both during the run of play and off of set pieces. He might have tired towards the end, with McGhee replacing him for Megginson after 72 minutes, but I continue to be high on the lad. Vernon as discussed saw a lot of the ball in the box, and in the end that's what you want from a striker. Captain Hartley continues to anchor the center of the field, though I do hope that he could at times avoid a foul or two, both on the giving and receiving end - he seems to end up in the middle of a lot of high-contact plays and we can't afford for him (or anybody else) to go down with a knock at this point. Finally the Dons could concede fewer free kicks in the middle of the pitch, but if that's all to complain about the Pittodrie side are in fair shape.
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