Aberdeen 0 - 1 Falkirk

The Irishman smashed the ball into the top corner on 31 minutes to give the Bairns a deserved win over the Dons, who offered little in attack.

Eddie May's side should have put the game beyond doubt but squandered a number of chances in the second half.

But they held on for all three points to lift themselves off the bottom of the Scottish Premier League table.

Falkirk's first win at Pittodrie since 1958 leaves Hamilton Accies propping up the rest, below the Bairns on goal difference.

Aberdeen's new loan signings from Plymouth, Steven MacLean and Jim Paterson, made their debuts following the deadline-day departure of Lee Miller to Middlesbrough.


Steven MacLean (left) made his debut for Aberdeen
Fit-again Zander Diamond was handed his first start since the opening day of the season, with Derek Young and Davide Grassi dropping to the bench.

Kieran Duffy was preferred to former Don Jackie McNamara in the Bairns defence and Carl Finnigan starting ahead of Jack Compton.

And, although Aberdeen made the brighter start, it was the visitors who could have taken an early lead when Enoch Showunmi outmuscled Jerel Ifil, but goalkeeper Jamie Langfield gathered at the feet of the former Leeds striker.

Paterson, playing at left-back, fired over after 11 minutes before skipper Mark Kerr followed suit as the home side's pressure began to mount.

Charlie Mulgrew almost gave the Dons the lead after 23 minutes with a curling free-kick that goalkeeper Robert Olejnik just managed to keep out.

Falkirk took the lead against the run of play when Finnigan laid the ball into the path of Irishman Healy, who fired past Langfield from 20 yards.

The Dons should have equalised four minutes later when Paterson's corner found the head of Darren Mackie, but the striker somehow managed to head over from six yards.

The visitors could have doubled their advantage within four minutes of the break when Marc Twaddle headed Healy's cross into the path of McLean, whose effort was blocked by Langfield.


Falkirk should have put the game beyond doubt after 63 minutes, but substitute Mark Stewart failed to connect with Showunmi's enticing ball across the face of goal before Ryan Flynn was brilliantly denied by a one-handed Langfield save.

Langfield could then only parry a Vitor Lima strike from distance before Stewart fired over from inside the area as the Bairns pressed for a second.

The visitors continued to threaten on the counter-attack with Showunmi causing plenty of problems for the Dons rearguard.

Aberdeen did muster a late rally with Derek Young's cross-cum-shot being pushed away by Olejnik for a fruitless corner.

And, with three minutes to go, the Austrian goalkeeper pulled off a tremendous save to deny substitute Michael Paton to ensure his side departed with maximum points.