Date: 30 July 2005
Venue: Tannadice Park, Dundee, 3.00pm kick-off

Score:
Dundee United 1
Aberdeen 1

Attendance: 12,404

Lee Miller and Barry Nicholson scored debut goals as Dundee United and Aberdeen shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in the opening Bank of Scotland Premier League game of the season.Former Bristol City striker Miller responded to the taunts of the visiting fans with a seventh-minute strike at Tannadice.

The ex-Falkirk man had rejected the chance to join the Dons in the summer but there was no such animosity for Scotland international Nicholson three minutes after the break. The former Dunfermline midfielder was on hand to convert the equaliser for Aberdeen.

The Pittodrie side made a lively start in front of an estimated travelling support of 5,600 fans at Tannadice.And the visiting fans gave a raucous reception to United striker Miller. However, in the seventh minute, he silenced their jeers as he scored his debut goal for the Tangerines. Mark Wilson's corner fell to David McCracken, who drove an effort on goal across the six-yard line.

But Miller was on hand to pick up the pieces and drive a shot into the top corner of the net. Grant Brebner was then booked for a cynical challenge on Gary Dempsey, but Aberdeen composed themselves and responded with a shot from distance from Jamie Smith in the 13th minute, which flashed just wide of the post. A Zander Diamond knock-down 10 yards out gave John Stewart a sniff of goal, but United captain Paul Ritchie was quickly on the scene to block his effort.

Ritchie was again on hand two minutes from half-time to block a driving run into the box from Scott Severin at the concession of a corner. Aberdeen continued to boss the closing stages of the half but lacked the punch upfront needed to trouble the United rearguard. In injury time, Jimmy Calderwood's men finally got in behind United's well-marshalled defence, but Nicholson failed to get any power in his hooked effort and United goalkeeper Derek Stillie made a comfortable catch. Aberdeen started the second half as they ended the first, firmly on the front foot and drew level three minutes into the second period thanks to a debut goal from Nicholson.

Kevin McNaughton worked a clever one-two with Chris Clark, allowing the Scotland international to venture behind United's backline. McNaughton drifted a cross to the back post and found the unmarked Nicholson, who beat Stillie with a well placed effort across goal. On the hour mark, from a Wilson corner, Alan Archibald headed over. Dempsey then fired wide from 25 yards before Ritchie was replaced by Garry Kenneth in a substitution which was presumably forced by an injury to the United captain. McNaughton was substituted by Jamie Winter with five minutes remaining as Aberdeen brought on some fresh legs in their search for a winner. Winter was given the chance to be a hero when Smith led a counter-attack and crossed to the on-rushing substitute. However, Winter blew his chance, completely missing the ball while under pressure from a United back three who were in rapid pursuit.

Teams:

Dundee United: Stillie, Wilson, McCracken, Archibald, Kerr, Brebner, Miller (Samuel), McIntyre, Duff, Crawford, Ritchie (c) (Kenneth 62). Unused subs: Samson (gk), Dodds, Grady, Holmes, Robertson.

Aberdeen: Esson, McNaughton (Winter), Anderson (c), Diamond, Severin, Smith, Nicholson, Clark, Dempsey, Stewart (Craig 72), Considine. Unused subs: Langfield (gk), Muirhead, Foster, MacAuley, Maguire.

Referee: Dougie McDonald