Aberdeen 1 - 0 Dundee

Jim Goodwin made two changes to the team beaten 2-1 by Livingston last Saturday, Ross McCrorie missing through suspension and Funso Ojo dropping to the bench. In their places came Calvin Ramsay and Christian Ramirez. Dylan McGeouch and Adam Montgomery also returned to duty on the bench.

There were two changes to the Dundee side that got a 1-12 draw with St Johnstone last weekend. In came former Dons man Niall McGinn, along with goalkeeper Harry Sharp, Ian Lawlor and Shaun Byrne dropping out of the starting XI.

There was an extraordinary start to the game - Ramirez kicked off and passed to Lewis Ferguson who saw the Dundee keeper off his line and launched a shot at goal that dropped onto the roof of the net with sharp scrambling as Aberdeen were almost ahead inside five seconds.

Ferguson was in the middle of the action again on seven minutes, wriggling into space across the top of the penalty area before getting off a shot, Sharp down well to save to his right.

Great work from Vicente Besuijen on eight minutes, hold the blank up on the right before shimmying past his defender and pulling the ball back through the six yard box, Ramirez a fraction away from getting a finishing touch.

Dundee's first chance came on 10 minutes, McGhee given a free header from an Adam corner, putting it back across goal and wide. Dundee weren't far away three minutes later, the ball ricocheting through the Aberdeen box, McGowan getting the last touch to stab it at goal from eight yards, Joe Lewis able to fall on the ball and avert the danger.

The skipper had to produce a fabulous save on 16 minutes, Ferguson receiving the ball on the edge of the area from Declan Gallagher when under pressure and being dispossessed. The ball was moved to Mullen 12 yards out, Lewis flinging himself to fingertip his effort over the bar. There was another brilliant reflex stop from McMullen on 19, the striker getting in front of David Bates to flick a shot at goal from a left wing cross, Lewis at full stretch down to his left to grab the ball.

Aberdeen roused the crowd again on 29 minutes, Connor Barron smashing a shot at goal from 25 yards, Sharp pushing it behind for a corner. A minute later, Besuijen was in the book for a foul on Adam.

Ferguson tried his luck with his left foot from 25 yards on 39 minutes, the shot flying over the bar as Aberdeen started to get some control of the game again. Barron was next to take responsibility, spearing another effort goalwards from 25 yards, the ball zipping just wide.

HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 DUNDEE 0

Two minutes into the second half, Pamirez played a lovely ball in behind the defender and into the box for Jack MacKenzie to chase. Kerr came across and took his legs from beneath him, but in keeping with Aberdeen's luck with decisions in recent weeks, there was no penalty.

Watkins and Ramirez then combined neatly to set Besuijen on his way. He darted into the box and under pressure, screwed a shot across goal but it dribbled agonisingly wide of the target on 51 minutes. Dundee made their first change a minute later, Adam replaced by Mulligan, much to the apparent displeasure of the opposition midfielder.

It was a case of hearts in mouths for the home support on 53 minutes, a McGinn corner finding Sweeney at the back post, Ramsay well positioned to head the ball off the line as the ball came back across goal. MacKenzie had a crack at goal from the edge of the box shortly afterwards, his effort flying over.

Aberdeen were almost in front on 65 minutes, Jonny Hayes feeding Ramirez on the edge of the box. He shaped a low shot that was bound for the bottom corner but Sharp produced a superb save down to his left to keep the ball out.

Midway through the half, Teddy Jenks replaced Ramirez for the Dons, McGinn and Anderson replaced Rudden and McCowan as both sides looked to find the crucial first goal.

Hayes took matters into his own hands for Aberdeen on 72 minutes, collecting the ball on halfway and marauding deep into the Dundee half before cutting inside and being chopped down by McGowan. Penalty. Straight down the middle and straight into the back of the net from Ferguson, 1-0 Aberdeen.

After making such a crucial contribution to the goal, Hayes made way for Montgomery on 77 minutes. Four minutes later, Dundee weren't far off the equaliser, a right wing corner picking out Mulligan a dozen yards out. He headed the ball into the ground, it bouncing up and just over the bar.

With the game edging into the last three minutes, a sharp Dundee break ended with the ball being farked out to Mullen at inside-right. He fizzed a shot low towards the near post, Lewis down well again to make a vital save. Kerr was then replaced by Daley-Campbell for Dundee. Mulligan was booked for a late lunge on MacKenzie as we entered four minutes of added time, the last meaningful action of the afternoon as the Dons sealed a massive win.