'Pressley, Pressley-ball': Dundee take down abject Aberdeen as winger tipped for EPL stands out
· Mark Atkinson · 2026-08-08 · nguồn gốc
'Pressley, Pressley-ball': Dominant Dundee take down abject Aberdeen as winger tipped for EPL stands out
Bevan takes plaudits as home fans serenade their manager
So this is Pressley-ball, as Dundee's delighted fans call it, a brand of quick, attacking football that comfortably dispatched of Aberdeen at Dens Park.
Dundee were 2-0 victors but a more emphatic scoreline would have been a fairer reflection on proceedings. The Dons were so bad and were widely jeered by a healthy travelling support, but the emphasis must be on an excellent display by the hosts.
They were inspired by Bevan, their 22-year-old right winger who was signed in January from Burnley. Pre-match, his manager Steven Pressley said he has it in him to play in the Premier League. The Scottish wide man, once of Albion Rovers, repaid the kind words.
Bevan had poor Aberdeen left-back Nesta Guinness-Walker on toast. He scored a goal and provided an assist. He will take the headlines but this was a complete Dundee performance, who were solid at the back, robust and creative in midfield and a menace in the final third.
Dundee earned plaudits for the way they competed at Celtic Park when losing 1-0 on Monday night. They lacked incisiveness against the champions but against far more generous opponents here, they showed what they were made of.
Dundee like to keep the ball on the deck, counter quickly and play an attractive brand of football. "Pressley, Pressley-ball," sang the home fans, signalling further approval for a manager they were very sceptical of this time last year.
The travelling Aberdeen fans were far less complimentary of their team's efforts. The boos started early and the Dons failed to build on last weekend's 2-1 win over Hearts, where they were also unconvincing until their late comeback.
Dundee signalled their intent early when Bevan fired wide from the edge of the penalty box. The hosts quickly identified that attacking down the right would be the most profitable route to goal and the opener duly arrived on nine minutes.
Aberdeen played their part, allowing Bevan to cut onto his preferred left foot and swing the ball into the danger area. Neither Lewis Mayo or Dan Happe picked up Westley, who hooked the ball on the volley past a helpless Marius Muller in the Aberdeen goal.
Dundee were attacking the Dons at will and their next big opportunity came on 20 minutes. A dithering Aberdeen defence allowed Westley to sprint through and Muller did well to save the one-on-one. The striker clipped the rebound back towards goal and Simon Murray ought to have done better than strike weakly at keeper.
Aberdeen fans boo their team
When Charlie Reilly blazed over from another promising position, the first of the boos emanated from behind the goal from a clearly peeved away support.
Aberdeen had been a non-existent attacking threat until the 34th minute. From a Stuart Armstrong corner kick, Happe headed towards goal from close range and Dundee keeper Owen Goodman did well to thrust up a hand and palm the ball on to the bar.
Frustration grew for Aberdeen when referee Calum Scott booked Lewis Mayo for a lunging tackle. For his protestations on the sidelines, their manager Stephen Robinson also picked up a caution.
His mood would have darkened further had Muller not parried Bevan's effort on 40 minutes, nor Mayo not slid in to clear a dangerous cross after Bevan once again had left Guinness-Walker for dead. It led to Muller having a frank exchange of views with former Dundee winger Tony Yogane, whose tracking back was non-existent.
The half-time whistle was welcomed relief for Aberdeen, with captain Kevin Nisbet vehemently urging his team-mates to come off quickly. Suffice to say the words at the break would be spicy.
Unsurprisingly, Yogane was hooked by Robinson for Lewis Smith - a decision cheered by the Dundee fans. Moroccan striker Ayoub Mouloua was also introduced for Afeez Aremu as Aberdeen went with two strikers.
The improvement was negligible and Dundee got their deserved second goal on 56 minutes. Reilly's cross from left made it all they way to the back post where Bevan was lurking. Guinness-Walker was not close enough to him and the vicious shot burst through the despairing hand of Muller and into the net.
Abject Aberdeen really needed to respond. Bevan once again skinned Guinness-Walker but could not find an end product, while at the other end Toyosi Olusanya's cutback was hit on to the top of the bar by Chris Cadden. It did not stop the boos raining down again.
Aberdeen had become slightly more threatening, desperately chasing a way back into the game. Goodman blocked a netbound Happe header, while Olusanya and Mouloua got in each other's way during a promising attack. It must also be noted that Dundee's defence were well-organised and resolute when put under pressure.
Bevan was replaced by Alan Forrest on 80 minutes in a show of clemency from Pressley towards Aberdeen. He was rapturously applauded off the pitch. His work was done.
Dundee pressed for a third. Striker Ash Hay, on for Murray, had three good chances during his half-hour on the pitch, the best of them being a free header that he planted right at Muller. Not that it mattered, in the end. The Dons weren't coming back.
These two meet again at Pittodrie next week in the Premier Sports Cup. Aberdeen will need to significantly improve - and find a way to deal with Bevan.
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