The visitors came to defend in depth and for long periods they had ten men inside their last third. We rarely penetrated and Langfield had only a couple of saves to make. They came out of their shell in the last twenty minutes and Mulgrew won the game with a thirty yard free kick.
Porter comes close
McGhee made a couple of changes from the eleven which lost the opener at Tynecastle. Murphy and Fitzpatrick where preferred to Malcolm and McGarry.
It was soon clear that the pattern of the game would be set by the Dons' defensive approach. They congregated in numbers at the edge of their penalty box and invited us to break them down.
After 15 minutes Clarkson and Murphy switched as we set about probing the mass of white shirts defending the goal in front of the South stand. They had to adjust to an injury to Diamond and Duff replaced him.
Smith fails to save
Graeme Smith produced a fine stop from McDonald as half time approached when the visitors made a rare attack. Our best chance of the first spell came following a low cross from Hammell. The ball fell to the feet of Murphy but the youngster, under pressure, could only manage a weak attempt.
The second half began brightly and we managed an early series of corners. Hughes might have done better with a header which missed the target. Quinn then forced Langfield into a fine stop when he met Hammell's corner with a well directed header at the far post.
After an hour we made a change. Darren Smith replaced Murphy but he got little service on the right wing.
The end came within five minutes of the final whistle. Lasley conceded a free kick some thirty yards from goal. Mulgrew curled a left footed effort to Smith's left post and found the net.
In his post match comments McGhee felt that he was not overly concerned at the manner of the defeat and that we were simply "missing a cutting edge".
We badly need a win next week when Dundee United come to town.