Gary Mackay-Steven’s first league goal of the season earned Aberdeen a 1-0 victory against Hibernian at Easter Road.
The former Celtic player netted the only goal of the game seven minutes before the break as the Dons kept a clean sheet for the third match in a row.
Mackay-Steven replaced Greg Stewart in the only alteration from the team that started the 3-0 victory against St Johnstone before the international break.
Hibernian manager Neil Lennon kept faith with the same starting line-up that earned a 2-2 against Celtic at Parkhead and his side began the game on the front foot with Dylan McGeouch dragging a shot wide from long range.
Mackay-Steven also started brightly and was inches away from breaking the deadlock when his low effort from a Ryan Christie cross flew just wide of the post.
Hibernian goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw produced an excellent save to keep out Adam Rooney’s glancing header, although the offside flag was up in any case.
The Dons were in the ascendancy and went close again in the 20th minute when Kenny McLean fed Mackay-Steven but his effort was too close to Laidlaw.
There was a let-off for the Dons three minutes later when Steven Whittaker cut inside from the right before Vykintas Slivka smashed the post from 12 yards out with Joe Lewis helpless.
But it was the Reds who made the breakthrough after 38 minutes when a sublime through-ball from Kenny McLean released Mackay-Steven who coolly rolled the ball beyond Laidlaw.
A careless pass from Anthony O’Connor allowed Hibernian to launch a swift counter but Anthony Stokes was unable to capitalise, blasting high and wide from just inside the area.
Hibs continued to push for an equaliser after the break with John McGinn testing Lewis from distance before Stokes went close with a well-struck free kick from 25 yards.
An exquisite piece of skill from Mackay-Steven helped set up Rooney but his volley failed to find the target as the game raced from end to end.
Hibernian taking more risks and pushing more players forward and the Dons almost capitalised on the extra space with Christie going close with an ambitious effort from 30 yards.
The home side still looked dangerous at the other end with Scott McKenna making a last-ditch block to deny Martin Boyle before Paul Hanlon nodded wide.