Qarabag 1-0 Aberdeen: Scottish visitors' group hopes still alive despite first-leg defeat in tough conditions

Aberdeen centre-back Andrew Considine left the pitch on a stretcher after a nasty first-half knee injury

Aberdeen's Europa Conference League group stage hopes remain alive despite a frustrating play-off first-leg defeat by Qarabag in Azerbaijan.

The Scots failed to get going on the rutted Tofiq Bahramov Stadium surface, with just two shots on target.

The return leg is next Thursday.

Aberdeen go into it with Andrew Considine, who was taken off in the opening 45 minutes on a stretcher, added to the injury list along with Ryan Hedges after he went off injured in Sunday's League Cup last-16 defeat by Raith Rovers.

• Reaction & as it happened

Glass was keen to distance himself from complaints about the pitch pre-match, but there is no doubt it had an impact on his side's approach with the early exchanges seeing a flurry of hopeful direct balls bypass the Abedeen midfield.

The surface was proving to be an issue for both sets of players in the opening stages, but the hosts settled quicker with Tural Bayramov skipping through a challenge and sending Joe Lewis to his right to tip an effort wide.

With lumps of turf appearing to dig up on every players' step, you feared a serious injury could be around the corner.

And so it proved when Scotland centre-back Considine challenged for an aerial ball before collapsing to the deck.

The change did the Scottish visitors no favours as they failed to compose themselves, with Qara Qarayev seeing an ambitious strike drift wide of Lewis' right-hand post.

But the hosts soon got the goal their first-half performance merited when Spaniard Romero cut on to his left foot and arrowed a low drive inside the near post.

Glass' men struggled to gain any control on a truly woeful surface - registering just 35% of possession in the opening 45 minutes.

The Tofiq Bahramov Stadium surface was covered in sand-filled divots and failed to hold up well throughout the game

The Dons boss withdrew Jay Emmanuel-Thomas for the youthful legs of Connor McLennan at the break, in the hope of adding more life and pace at the top end of the pitch.

But it was a thankless task for the Aberdeen forwards, with no service coming their way and constant running demanded in stifling conditions.

Thankfully for the visitors, Qarabag posed less of a threat in the second period as Borges Malinowski had a strike from range sail over.

Aberdeen eventually settled as the game progressed into the latter stages, with Christian Ramirez finding himself in behind, but the American's tame and tired finish was saved with ease.

That was quickly followed with a similar chance for the home side, but substitute Marko Vesovic showed more patience and composure, only to be denied by Lewis who pulled off what could be a crucial stop in the tie.

The Scots were offered an opening with the last kick of the game when Lewis Ferguson placed the ball for a 25-yard free-kick.

The midfielder's effort beat the Qarabag wall, but failed beat home keeper, who gathered comfortably to round up a frustrating night for the Scottish Premiership side.

Man of the match - Jack MacKenzie

The young full-back was tasked with moving into the Aberdeen back three after Considine's injury but wasn't fazed and defended superbly throughout

What did we learn?

On a pitch as bad as the one Glass' side were tasked with playing on, it is difficult to judge his team's response to Sunday's shock League Cup exit in Kirkcaldy.

To come away with just a one-goal defeat can be viewed as a positive given their performance, but there is no hiding from the fact that it is now back-to-back defeats and consecutive underwhelming displays.

Sunday's trip to Hearts looks big for restoring momentum.

What's next?

Aberdeen go to Tynecastle on Sunday (15:00 BST) to face Hearts in the Scottish Premiership before next Thursday's return leg against Qarabag at Pittodrie (19:45).

More to follow.