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New-boy Chidi Nwakali was in the thick of battle on his debut as Aberdeen lost a tasty encounter to Lokomotiv Tashkent.

The Nigerian ace showed his appetite and aggression as well as good ability during his hour-cameo in defeat at the hands of the back-to-back Uzbekistan champions.

Nwakali was in the midst of angry exchanges where players squared up in the centre circle and also collected his team’s only booking for a scything tackle on rival playmaker Sanjar Shaakhmedov.

It was competitive alright, but Derek McInnes wanted his team to get a workout and that’s what they got in a contest which was played out in four sections to make up the 90 minutes at the Jebel Ali Centre of Excellence in Dubai.

Defeat was unwanted, but not meaningful and not looking likely either after an opening full of zest.

Naturally, Nwakali, on loan from Manchester City, took the attention of the Dons fans in the ground, but it was the attacking players who really caught the eye.

Ryan Christie, lively playing off the front, hit a post after Greg Stewart had a drive blocked, while Kenny McLean had the ball in the net only for the effort to be ruled offside.

Christie also forced a flying save from keeper Ignatiy Nesterov and the Uzbek No.1 tipped over a Stewart header, yet, bizarrely having been in control, the Reds suddenly fell 2-0 down to a quickfire double.

McInnes’ men lost an opener from a corner-kick when Islom Tukhtakhujaev netted and Sherzodbek Karimov slammed home a second soon afterwards before the first 30 minute change-up.

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Temperatures might have cooled as the sun started getting lower, but there were sill men hot under the collar as Tukhtakhujaev’s leading elbow in a challenge with Christie sparked a fiery scene.

Players pushed and jostled angrily and Uzbek boss Tulabek Akramov even stormed onto the pitch to get involved after gesturing at McInnes.

Referee Abdullah Al Buloshy had to calm things down and skipper Graeme Shinnie and his opposite number were called together for peace talks.

Aberdeen remained two-down going into the third section of the event, where Kari Arnason for Mark Reynolds was the only alteration.

However, despite one or two near things, they were unable to eat into the Tashkent advantage and went down, despite adding a host of fresh legs for a run-out in the final 30 minutes.

3 talking points

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Chidi got chinned

New-boy Chidi Nwakali was instantly into his debut. Backing up play, getting on the ball with regularity and looking tidy in possession. He also stands up for himself as he displayed during the second-period shoving match and when booked in the third for going through the back on an opponent. The signs were good, but you don’t get away with any slackness at Aberdeen and keeper Joe Lewis gave him a lengthy earful for not tracking a runner as Lokomotiv bagged a second goal.

Flyin' Ryan

Christie has been a revelation during his loan switches to Pittodrie from Celtic and some of his touches and one-touch passing are a joy to behold. His constant threat led to an Uzbek defender trying to stick an elbow in his ear to stop him. But the dancing feet appear to be in full working order and, if the playmaker can hit top form through the remainder of the campaign, he can push himself towards Player of the Year awards.

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Scott not hot to trot

Aberdeen have launched out a £300,000 bid from Hull City for defender Scott McKenna and there’s good reasons for that. The Dons have been hunting a dominant young stopper for years and, having found one, they are loathe for him to go anywhere. Goals like the Uzbek opener which came from the defence not attacking a corner kick into the heart of their box are surely more-avoidable with McKenna in the line-up and not in Humberside.