Fletcher back in United loss

Darren Fletcher: Made his comeback for Manchester United in Aberdeen friendly defeat

Darren Fletcher returned to action as Manchester United were defeated 2-1 by Aberdeen in a testimonial match for Dons legend Neil Simpson.

Former Aberdeen manager Sir Alex Ferguson included Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand in a star-studded side as he returned to the Granite City for the match in honour of his former player, who is currently the head of the Pittodrie youth academy.

Fletcher, who is on the road to recovery from a chronic inflammatory bowel condition, featured for United for the first time since a UEFA Champions League match against Benfica last November, coming on a second-half substitute.

Simpson, part of Ferguson's Aberdeen side which won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1983, was given a rousing reception by the sell-out crowd as he kicked the match off before being promptly replaced by Stephen Hughes with less than 30 seconds on the clock.

Former Old Trafford favourites Dwight Yorke, Clayton Blackmore and Quinton Fortune all made cameo appearances, while the home support were also treated to a trip down memory lane with Brian Irvine, Dougie Bell, Doug Rougvie and Steve Tosh all donning an Aberdeen top once again.

The Dons had an early scare when Giggs curled an effort off the post from the edge of the area with his weaker right foot after 11 minutes before Nick Powell fired over from the edge of the area.

However it was the hosts who took an unexpected lead after 38 minutes when Jonny Hayes pounced on a rare lapse by Scholes when he dispossessed the midfielder and coolly slotted the ball past David de Gea.

Warm reception

The visitors should have restored parity just after the break but Powell headed wide from a perfect cross from Blackmore.

Fletcher was introduced just before the half-hour mark to a warm reception from the Pittodrie crowd before Aberdeen doubled their lead when Joe Shaughnessy turned the ball home from an Andrew Considine pass after United failed to deal with a Rob Milsom corner.

Yorke had a strike ruled out for offside before Anderson pulled a goal back for United after 81 minutes with a neat finish.

But Aberdeen held on for a surprise victory against the Premier League giants.