Aberdeen 2 Dundee United 0: Dons officially confirm Premiership survival and now squad rebuild can ramp up

Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson delivered on his immediate remit as the Dons’ Premiership survival was officially confirmed with a 2-0 win against Dundee United.

When Robinson was appointed in March the Reds were mired in a nosedive of form and in real danger of being dragged into a relegation play-off battle.

Former St Mirren’ boss Robinson’s overriding priority was to save the Dons from the ignominy of relegation for the first time in the club’s 123-year history.

That has been achieved as Aberdeen are 10 points ahead of St Mirren, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, with two games remaining.

With the Dons’ top-flight status for next season confirmed Robinson can now focus on rebuilding the squad.

And after a woeful campaign where the threat of the drop loomed many players can inevitably expect to pay the price by exiting Pittodrie in the summer.

Midfielder Stuart Armstrong fired Aberdeen ahead with a clinical 12-yard drive in the 19th minute.

Toyosi Olusanya made it 2-0 in the 89th minute when a Lyall Cameron effort was parried by keeper Dave Richards.

Olusanya fired in the loose ball from six yards for his first Aberdeen goal.

Dundee United were reduced to 1o men in the 84th minute when Emmanuel Agyei was shown a second yellow for a foul on Olusanya.

We look at three talking points:

Pittodrie becoming a fortress again, but away problem remains

Manager Robinson has made Pittodrie a happy hunting ground for the Dons again since arriving at the club in March.

Under Robinson the Reds are unbeaten at home in the Premiership, registering three wins and a draw for a return of 10 points from 12.

This is the first time Aberdeen have won three successive league games without conceding since February to April 2023.

Aberdeen have picked up more points in their four last league games under Robinson at Pittodrie than they did in their previous 16 before his appointment.

In the 16 Premiership matches at Pittodrie before Robinson took on the Reds hotseat the Dons had secured only seven points – two wins, one draw and 12 losses.

Robinson has used Pittodrie as the platform for the successful battle against relegation.

On his first day at Aberdeen the manager underlined the importance of building a bond between the fans and team, fighting for a unified cause.

That cause was hauling the club clear of a relegation play-off, and Robinson has delivered that.

Now the next task is to resurrect the Dons next season into a team fighting for European qualification and cup success.

Retaining strong form, with the help of the Red Army, will be key to that.

However during the pre-season Robinson will have to formulate a plan to fix the damaging problem of Aberdeen’s away Premiership form.

The Dons have not won away from Pittodrie in the Premiership since a 3-1 victory at Dundee on December 6.

That away problem was fundamental factor to the campaign teetering to the verge of a relegation battle before Robinson was appointed.

Knoester’s return to starting line-up

Centre-back Mats Knoester impressed on his return to the starting line-up for the first time since enduring a three month injury nightmare.

Dutch defender Knoester was ruled out long term with a neck injury suffered when falling awkwardly onto the artificial surface at Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park on January 31.

Despite that long absence Knoester scooped the player of the year gong at the club’s recent annual awards ceremony.

Knoester had featured off the bench in the previous two matches on his return but was elevated back into the starting XI for the New Firm derby.

The centre-back brought a calmness and organisation to the back-line on his return.

He played a key role in a clean sheet, with Knoester pitching in with three tackles, eight clearances, 17 duels with 12 of them won.

He had 10 aerial duels with six won as well as 33 total passes with 30 of them accurate.

There was also a welcome return to action for right-back Nicky Devlin.

Scotland international Devlin had been sidelined since suffering a knee injury in the 1-0 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle on February 28.

Devlin was introduced off the bench for Milne in the 75th minute against Dundee United.

Why Aberdeen must sign Olusanya

On loan attacker Toyosi Olusanya underlined why Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson is keen to sign the striker on a permanent deal.

The on loan Houston Dynamo striker was a constant menace to the Dundee United defence with his runs in behind, physicality and pace.

And after a succession of missed chances Olusanya finally scored his first Aberdeen goal when firing in a parried save by keeper Richards from six yards.

It was reward for the striker’s tireless effort.

Olusanya was secured on loan from the MLS club in January until the end of the season.

The 28-year-old’s contract at Houston expires in June this year but the American club have an option to extend that.

Boss Robinson confirmed talks are ongoing in a bid to extend Olusanya’s stay at Pittodrie.

Olusanya brings an all-action threat to the Dons attack that was previously absent and defenders must hate playing against him.

Loan striker Olusanya’s intensity of play and physicality nearly resulted in his first goal for the Dons after nine minutes.

He fought to win possession 25 yards out after a long kick from keeper Dimitar Mitov.

Olusanya shrugged off three challenges as he broke in on goal but his 10 yard low shot was blocked by keeper Dave Richards.

He was key to the Dons scoring in the 19h minute when Olusanaya muscled Kirsztian Keresztes off the ball in the penalty area.

Olusanya then looked up and picked out Stuart Armstrong’s run with a lay-off.

Armstrong controlled the ball with his left foot then fired in a 12 yard drive.

In the 52nd minute Olusanya met a Milne cross from the right in space but his 15 yard header was poor and directed well wide.

Then in the 82nd minute Olusanya was found in space in the box by a Mitchel Frame pass, but the striker blasted over from 10 yards.

Dundee United’s struggles to deal with Olusanya also saw them reduced to 10 men when Emmanuel Agyei was shown a second yellow card for fouling the striker late on.

The striker got a deserved goal finally came in the 88th minute.

Olusanya is also forging a strong partnership with Scotland international striker Kevin Nisbet.

The on loan Houston Dynamo strikers runs and pace stretches the back-line and constantly has the defenders moving out of position to create space.

ABERDEEN (3-4-1-2): Mitov 7;  Morrison 7, Knoester 7, Molloy 7; Milne 7 (Devlin 75), Aremu 7 (Palaversa 82), Geiger 7 (Shinnie 66), Gyamfi 6 (Frame 66); Armstrong 7 (Cameron 75); Olusanya 7, Nisbet 7

Subs not used: Suman, Bilalovic, Bwomono, Keskinen

DUNDEE UNITED (3-4-2-1): Richards 6; Iovu 6, Graham 7, Keresztes 3 (Watters 46); Strain 6, Sevelj 6 (Camara 79), Agyei 7, Ferry 6; Farrugia 5 (Dolcek 57), Naamo 3 (Eskesen 46); Sapsford 6 (Russell 79)

Subs not used: Adams, Sibbald, Stirton, Cleall-Harding

Referee: Duncan Nicholson

Attendance: 18,163

Man-of-the-Match: Toyosi Olusanya (Aberdeen)

[Source: Press and Journal]