Half-Time Report: Shay Logan heads Aberdeen into slender advantage

Aberdeen recovered from a missed penalty to take a 1-0 half-time lead over Daugava Riga in their first-round qualifier of the Europa League at Pittodrie tonight.

Shay Logan headed home Jonny Hayes's cross on 33 minutes to give the Dons a deserved advantage and spare the blushes of Barry Robson, who had earlier fluffed his lines from 12 yards.

The Scottish Premiership outfit started part one of this two-legged affair much the better of the sides, and nearly took a sixth-minute lead but Adam Rooney headed narrowly wide.

Rooney was then felled in the area as Aberdeen were afforded the opportunity to earn an advantage from the penalty spot, but Robson saw his weak effort saved by Emilijius Zubas.

Unperturbed by the miss, Derek McInnes's side continued in the same vein and saw their perseverance rewarded shortly after the half-hour mark courtesy of Logan's thumping header.

The Latvians struggled to create the chances necessary to restore parity before the break and Aberdeen cruised into an advantage at the interval.