Aberdeen defender Alexander Diamond was both hero and villain as the 10-man Dons desperately held on for a 2-1 victory over Dundee United in their Bank of Scotland Premier League match at Tannadice.

Goals by Diamond and substitute John Stewart gave the visitors a seemingly comfortable 2-0 interval lead but 10 minutes into the second half the Dons defender, booked in the first half for a foul on Barry Robson, was shown his second yellow card for a foul on the same player.

United striker Jason Scotland quickly pulled a goal back to set up a second-half siege on the Aberdeen penalty area but to no avail. To add to the home side's frustration, skipper Paul Ritchie was also sent off just before the end after receiving his second yellow card for a cynical foul on Darren Mackie.

The visitors signalled their intent in the fifth minute when midfielder Chris Clark's 30-yard snap-shot nearly caught Tony Bullock out, the United goalkeeper having to react quickly to tip the ball over the crossbar.

But in the ninth minute the determined Dons took the lead after Ritchie needlessly fouled Mackie to the right of the home side's penalty area.

When Jamie Winter's floated free-kick came into the middle the United defence failed to clear and when the ball dropped among a ruck of players 12 yards out, Diamond quickly slammed his shot past the helpless Bullock.

In the 23rd minute Winter took a turn to fire in a shot from distance but Bullock moved smartly to his left to gather.

The Dons were dealt a blow however in the 25th minute when striker Noel Whelan limped off injured to be replaced by Stewart.

United gradually fought back and just before the interval Scotland had a fine turn and shot inside the Aberdeen penalty area which beat goalkeeper Ryan Esson, but Dons midfielder Phil McGuire cleared to safety.

However, almost cruelly for the home side, a minute before the half-time whistle the visitors doubled their lead with a similar goal to their opener.

Clark's looping cross into the box from the right eventually broke to substitute Stewart who turned and hammered the ball into the net from 16 yards with the help of a deflection off McGuire.

Incredibly, McGuire almost made it 3-0 but his header from 12 yards following a Winter corner clipped the crossbar before going over.

In the 55th minute however, the Dons were controversially reduced to 10 men when Diamond overstepped the mark. It seemed a rather harsh decision by referee Craig Thomson but it succeeded in raising the tempo and on the hour mark the Tannadice men found themselves right back in the game with a Scotland goal.

Tangerines' midfielder Mark Kerr robbed the dithering Clark at the edge of the Dons penalty area, slipped the unmarked Scotland in and the Trinidadian smartly drove his shot from 14 yards past Esson.

Moments later Scotland caused more havoc when he cut in from the right and his drive across the six-yard box seemed to come off Dons defender Michael Hart and onto his own post before he cleared the ball away.

It was all United now as they lay siege to the Aberdeen goal and it seemed only a matter of time before the equaliser arrived.

Aberdeen could hardly get the ball out of their own half but the home side were becoming increasingly desperate and in the 77th minute Robson had two attempts from just inside the Dons' penalty area but still could not trouble Esson.

As the game drew to a finish, Aberdeen could find little respite and in the 85th minute Robson's deflected shot from the edge of the box was tipped over the crossbar by Esson.

In the 88th minute Tannadice skipper Ritchie, booked in the 85th minute for dissent, was also sent off after a 'last man' tackle on Mackie.

Teams

Dundee Utd Bullock, Wilson, Ritchie, Archibald, Duff, Grady, Kerr (Dodds 76), Brebner (Callaghan 85), Robson, Crawford, Scotland (Samuel 80).

Subs Not Used: Colgan, Robertson, Cameron, Kenneth.

Sent Off: Ritchie (88).

Booked: Ritchie.

Goals: Scotland 60.

Aberdeen Esson, Hart, Diamond, Anderson, Byrne, McNaughton, McGuire, Winter, Clark, Whelan (Stewart 25), Mackie, Stewart (Morrison 59).

Subs Not Used: Ilic, Craig, Muirhead, Foster.

Sent Off: Diamond (56).

Booked: Diamond, Winter.

Goals: Diamond 9, Stewart 45.

Att: 6,688

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).