A Scott Vernon hat-trick helped Aberdeen take a massive step towards finishing in second place in the Scottish Premiership with a 3-1 victory against Dundee United at Tannadice last night.
The win moves the Dons four points clear of third-place Motherwell, who host Caley Thistle this evening before Sunday’s end-of-season showdown at Pittodrie.
The result ended the Tangerines’ slim hopes of qualifying for Europe by finishing third but they can still earn a place in next season’s Europa League by beating St Johnstone in this month’s Scottish Cup final.
The Dons were without forward Adam Rooney, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining an ankle injury in a 5-2 defeat by Celtic at Parkhead on Saturday.
Vernon, who is out of contract at the end of the season, was given a chance to impress in his first start since January 18 in place of the injured Irishman in the Dons’ only change.
In contrast, Scottish Cup finalists Dundee United made six changes with 21-year-old goalkeeper Marc McCallum making his first team debut, while John Souttar, Mark Wilson, Stuart Armstrong, Morgaro Gomis and Brian Graham also started.
The Tangerines, who had won only one of their previous nine matches against Aberdeen, welcomed Jackie McNamara back to the dugout following his recent three-game touchline ban.
With Clark Robertson and Andrew Considine both missing through injury, Jonny Hayes deputised at left back, while Vernon was supported by the attacking midfield triumvirate of Barry Robson, Peter Pawlett and Niall McGinn.
Both teams created chances in the opening exchanges, with the hosts having a soft appeal for a penalty waved when Ryan Dow fell under pressure from Russell Anderson after six minutes.
It was the visitors who broke the deadlock with only seven minutes elapsed when Pawlett threaded a cute pass through to Vernon, who calmly rolled the ball beyond McCallum to the delight of the large travelling support.
United offered an immediate response through Turkish top scorer Nadir Ciftci but his thunderous effort was superbly clawed away by Jamie Langfield in the Aberdeen goal.
Vernon had the chance to double his tally when he was released by Pawlett but this time his composure deserted him as he sliced the ball wide.
United were beginning to look more potent in attack but the Dons continued to look dangerous in the final third with Barry Robson heading narrowly wide from McGinn’s cross.
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes was forced into making an early change when Willo Flood limped off after 31 minutes and was replaced by Cammy Smith.
Things went from bad to worse when Dundee United replied 11 minutes before the break when captain Sean Dillon latched onto a Stuart Armstrong pass and his shot deflected into the net off Mark Reynolds.
The Dons had goalkeeper Langfield to thank for two outstanding saves just before the break. The first to deny Andy Robertson’s sweetly struck volley, the second to deny Mark Wilson’s effort which seemed destined for the top corner but the Aberdeen custodian somehow tipped the ball onto the crossbar to ensure parity remained.
Aberdeen had the ball in the back of the net five minutes after the restart when McCallum spilled Smith’s low drive and McGinn stooped to head home the loose ball but the Northern Ireland international was adjudged to have been in an offside position.
United had another penalty appeal dismissed when Brian Graham tumbled to ground following a nudge from Anderson before Vernon was denied by McCallum.
The young goalkeeper did not look as clever from the resulting set-piece as he completely misjudged a Robson corner and Vernon was on hand to head the ball into the unguarded net at the back post.
United should have got back on level terms immediately but Ciftci blazed over with the goal gaping before Ryan Dow had a goal chalked off for a marginal offside decision.
Langfield heroics continued in the 71st minute when he dived low to his right to thwart Graham before the game ended as a contest in the 75th minute when Vernon completed his hat-trick.
The Dons forward capitalised on a poor error by Gavin Gunning, who is expected to leave United in the summer, and rounded McCallum before slotting into the empty net.