Dundee secured their first league victory of the season by defeating Aberdeen 2-0 at Dens Park on Saturday, marking the third consecutive win against their northeast rivals. Goals from Joe Westley and Joe Bevan propelled Steven Pressley’s side to a well-deserved triumph, extending their recent dominance over the Dons.

Dundee started strongly, with Bevan’s pace and creativity posing significant problems for Aberdeen’s defense. In the ninth minute, Bevan delivered a precise cross from the right wing, allowing Westley to volley the opening goal after positioning himself between two defenders. Westley’s finish highlighted his value as a centre-forward, a role he had previously advocated for with Pressley.

Aberdeen, coming into the match unbeaten and on a winning streak, struggled to find rhythm throughout the game. Despite a determined effort in the 35th minute, when a corner from Stuart Armstrong nearly resulted in an equalizer, the visitors failed to generate many clear chances. Marius Muller, Aberdeen’s goalkeeper, was called into action several times, including making a flying save from Bevan’s curled shot.

Manager Stephen Robinson made two substitutions at halftime, introducing Lewis Smith and Ayoub Mouloua for Tony Yogane and Afeez Aremu in an attempt to boost the team’s attacking threat. However, Aberdeen’s difficulties persisted in the second half, with Dundee maintaining control and capitalizing on their opportunities.

Bevan doubled Dundee’s lead with a well-executed finish after a VAR check overturned a potential penalty claim by Aberdeen, reinforcing the home side’s superiority. Throughout the match, Aberdeen appeared second best, and frustration for Robinson was evident as he received a booking for dissent related to his team’s defensive approach.

Robinson expressed optimism about his new signing Mitchy Ntelo, who joined from Yverdon-Sport on a two-year deal with an option for a further year. Ntelo, a 25-year-old forward known for his pace and strength, was still awaiting international clearance and was unavailable for the match against Dundee. The manager emphasized Ntelo’s potential to add physicality and goals to Aberdeen’s forward line, and the player himself voiced eagerness to begin playing and contributing to the team’s success.

The loss represents Aberdeen’s first league defeat of the campaign, while Dundee’s victory underlines their resurgence and tactical readiness under Pressley as they seek to build momentum for the season ahead.