Bojan Miovski's 12th goal of the season was the difference as Aberdeen continued their formidable home form and put their Tannadice horror show behind them with a hard-fought win over Dundee United at Pittodrie.
Miovski dispatched from the penalty spot late in the first half after Luis 'Duk' Lopes was taken down by United stopper Mark Birighitti inside the box. The match lacked many clear-cut opportunities with both sides wasteful in front of goal. Aberdeen edged large spells of the play as Duk and Miovski both had opportunities to make the score line more comfortable. But even with a late resurgence from the Tayside outfit, the Dons held on for victory.
The three points takes Jim Goodwin's side back up to third place in the Scottish Premiership after Livingston's win over Hearts earlier had temporarily put the Lions ahead of the Dons. Liam Fox's men remain rooted to the bottom of the table and it will stay that way for over a month with the season taking a break for the World Cup.
It was an even opening as both teams looked to get a foothold in the game. Steven Fletcher looked the main out ball for the visitors and it was the former Scotland international who came close to making a breakthrough after six minutes but he couldn't get a vital touch on Glen Middleton's ball.
Connor Barron spurned two half chances before Matty Kennedy, who was reintroduced to the starting XI in place of Jayden Richardson, was picked out free inside the box but fired over on 13 minutes as Aberdeen continued to try press a well-organised United defence.
However it was Middleton who came closest to putting his side in front with a terrific effort from the edge of the box but Anthony Stewart managed to get a vital block to only concede a corner. Despite some neat football on show at both ends, there was very little for either Kelle Roos or Birighitti to do come the 25 minute mark.
Aberdeen did open United up with a lovely interchange between Duk and Leighton Clarkson, but the ball just rolled away from the Liverpool loanee as he was about to pull the trigger.
The Dons were awarded a penalty shortly after as Duk was taken down by Birighitti after finding himself through on goal. Miovski, who missed from the spot against Livi in midweek, stepped up and sent the United keeper the wrong way to make it 1-0.
Clarkson then went on a marauding run down the left-hand side but his cross to the unmarked Miovski was over hit as things started to come to life at Pittodrie before half-time.
Duk had the opportunity to double the hosts advantage after finding himself with only the goalkeeper to beat but the Cape Verde striker's chipped effort landed wide of the post.
Goodwin's men led at the break but it was the visitors who begun the second 45 with a solid spell of possession while Ylber Ramadani was shown yellow for stopping a United counter-attack.
But the hosts dominance returned five minutes later as Ross Graham showed tenacity to win important interception and deny Miovski a header from close range before Ross McCrorie hit the side netting from the resulting corner. Graham had his work cut out minutes later as he was forced to turn Clarkson's goal bound effort over the bar.
Aberdeen were desperate to double their lead and get some breathing space. Fox made a double substitution in an attempt to get an equaliser and Ian Harkes almost made an immediate impact with his first touch after threading the ball across goal for Fletcher to no avail.
It was end-to-end heading into the final quarter. Ramadani fired a low effort straight at Birighitti before Graham brought Roos into action with a fingertip save at the other end. Duk was denied by another courageous block then Stewart tripped Fletcher at the edge of the box as United tried to launch everything at getting a late goal.
Fletcher took the free-kick and hit the wall. It was tense around the ground as the visitors sensed they could get something. That left gaps at the other end which was shown as Duk broke away and teed up Kennedy who fired over. There was one last flurry of attack from the visitors but ultimately they are left with 35 days of soul-searching at the foot of the table with the league now on shutdown.
Here are the talking points from the clash.
Fortress Pittodrie
Aberdeen have now won all but one of their home games this season - and even then the one they lost was a pulsating 2-3 defeat at Pittodrie.
The Dons have racked up three points from six of their seven clashes in the Granite City and scored 22 goals, which is the exact same as Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic, and Rangers. They have also only conceded six goals at home - the tied third best record in the league.
Bojan Miovski seems to thrive off the confidence of the Red Army as that's where the bulk of his goals have come. And if Jim Goodwin can get his side emulating this form away from home, Aberdeen could be a cert for European football next season.
For context, the Dons have been one of the country's worst travellers with five defeats from eight away games.
Tannadice horror show looks distant memory
It was chalk and cheese from the last meeting between the sides on October 8 when Dundee United ran out 4-0 winners at Tannadice. Aberdeen showed little attacking threat that day and were woeful defensively as Liam Fox's men picked them apart at ease.
Fast forward five weeks and it was a much more tightly-contested and nervy affair. Jim Goodwin's set up worked expertly with Anthony Stewart a rock at the heart of the backline and really didn't give Steven Fletcher a sniff. While Duk showed energy to chase every ball and force mistakes.
United did show some fine passing at Pittodrie with Dylan Levitt and Kieran Freeman always eager to find space but the end product was ultimately the achilles heel throughout for the Tayside club - who remain bottom of the league.
Miovski silences doubters
Bojan Miovski scored the decisive goal from the spot to move tied with Rangers' Antonio Colak at the top of the Scottish Premiership goal standings.
Miovski is Jim Goodwin's preferred penalty taker since the departure of Lewis Ferguson to Bologna in the summer. But he missed from the spot against Hibs last Friday before VAR ordered a retake which he dispatched.
Many would've thought that would be the last of the North Macedonia talisman fluffing his lines from 12-yards but he was denied again against Livingston on Tuesday night which meant Duk was tasked with taking, and scoring, when Goodwin's men were given another penalty at Almondvale.
However he showed his class with a classy pen to send Mark Birighitti the wrong way and leave him being subbed off in the second half as a match winner.
The 23-year-old also done his fair share of defending with several clearances from opposition set pieces.
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