Dundee's Ethan Hamilton scores to make it 3-2 during a William Hill Premiership match between Aberdeen and Dundee at Pittodrie Stadium, on February 21, 2026, in Aberdeen, ScotlandSNS

Ethan Hamilton crashed in a stunning strike to win the game for Dundee

At a glance

  • Nisbet credited with opener after strong Aberdeen start

  • But Morrison red card and Murray penalty changes game for Dundee

  • Cotterill completes turnaround before stunning Nisbet free-kick for 10-man hosts

  • Hamilton lashes in winner six minutes from full-time

Watch: Aberdeen v Dundee - Sportscene highlights

21/02/26

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Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

Ethan Hamilton's stunning late strike gave Dundee a first Scottish Premiership win at Pittodrie since 2004 after a thrilling and bizarre game against 10-man Aberdeen.

Kevin Nisbet's sensational free-kick looked like earning Aberdeen an unlikely point, but midfielder Hamilton responded with a terrific left-footed strike into the top corner with six minutes left.

It capped a mad game in which Aberdeen started sharply and got themselves ahead when Nisbet was credited with shooting straight through goalkeeper Jon McCracken despite Toyosi Olusanya following it in on the line and running off in celebration.

However, Dundee responded strongly to going behind and forced a big mistake from Liam Morrison that helped change the momentum of the game.

The centre-back failed to deal with a long ball and bundled over Tony Yogane, resulting in a red card and penalty after a review by the video assistant referee.

Simon Murray confidently dispatched from the spot and then Joel Cotterill bundled in Dundee's second in first-half stoppage time after Aberdeen goalkeeper Per Kristian Bratveit failed to deal with Cameron Congreve's shot.

Aberdeen managed to maintain an attacking presence in the second half, though, and Nisbet was given the chance to find an equaliser when Lyall Cameron was felled 25 yard from goal.

The striker curled the ball beyond the reach of the despairing McCracken brilliantly to level the game and set up an end-to-end finale.

But Hamilton, arguably Dundee's player of the season, managed to match his brilliant strike against Celtic in the Scottish Cup a few weeks ago and move his side one point behind eighth-place Aberdeen.

Analysis: Hamilton leads Dundee to Pittodrie win

Former Manchester United youth player Hamilton has been one of the finds of the season in the Premiership.

A combative midfielder who also has flashes of class when needed, he rattled in his first Dundee goal against Celtic in the Scottish Cup - only for his side to concede late on and eventually exit the competition.

This time his goal, which involved shuffling away from Cameron and reversing a precise and powerful left-footed shot into the top corner from miles out, got the outcome it deserved.

It also spared talk of Dundee being a strange team, who often struggle to get going in attack even after previously having a strong spell in the game.

The fact is when they play with purpose they have the weapons in attack to cause teams lots of issues.

Yogane wreaked havoc again with his directness and pace, which ultimately led to Morrison's clumsy challenge and dismissal.

After getting their season going after Christmas, Steven Pressley's side went five without a win and will hope ending that run is the catalyst to move further away from the bottom.

Stats

Aberdeen's performance encapsulated much about their disappointing season.

They started strongly - as they have done regularly at home - and then suddenly stopped playing.

Rather than pass their way forward they blasted hurried long balls, which allowed Dundee to build wave after wave of attack.

Such was the pressure after Nisbet's opener - the result of nice work by Mitchel Frame and Topi Keskinen down the left - it was almost inevitable when Morrison was undone by Yogane's run in behind.

That mistake was compounded by poor goalkeeping by Per Kristian Bratveit to allow Congreve's shot to get past him and gift Cotterill an easy goal.

In fairness Aberdeen did respond in the second half and maintained a threat, which culminated in Nisbet sumptuous free-kick.

But they were always ragged going the other way and were eventually punished.

It is the fourth time in five matches Aberdeen have had a player sent off, and they have lost five of their six league games since Jimmy Thelin was sacked.

With each week the suggestion the club will wait until the summer to appoint a full-time replacement gets harder to justify.

What they said

Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven: "We stopped playing football, they equalise and then there's the red card. We need to be better at dealing with a long ball. But he's cut across him, I'm not sure what he can do and I don't know why we're punished twice. But we've got to take it on the chin.

"I thought at times we were good in the second half. We get it back to 2-2 and it's got to be a point in that game."

Dundee manager Steven Pressley: "We didn't start well, got a set back and we showed terrific personality and character. And then after going 2-1 up and with them down to 10 men we had another hammer blow and responded brilliantly again. So although it wasn't our best performance, it was a winning one."

What's next?

Aberdeen visit Tannadice on Tuesday to play Dundee United (19:45 GMT) while Dundee host Hibernian at Dens Park next Saturday (15:00).

Player of the match

E. Hamilton
8.39
15 K. Nisbet
6.21
25 L. Cameron
5.18
22 J. Milne
4.67
8 D. Geiger
4.57
3 M. Frame
4.57
26 T. McIntyre
4.31
20 T. Olusanya
4.19
2 N. Devlin
4.15
18 A. Palaversa
4.09
81 T. Keskinen
3.75
99 P. Kristian Bråtveit
3.47
32 A. Aremu
3.46
14 K. Bilalović
3.42
23 L. Morrison
3.27
27 M. Lazetić
3.25
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