Second-half goals from Kari Arnason and Kenny McLean ensured Aberdeen are three points clear in second place after a 2-0 win at Motherwell.
Arnason and McLean netted within three minutes of each other to ensure the victory for Derek McInnes’ side, who were behind Rangers on goal-difference prior to kick-off but now have sole control of second spot.
The Dons made one change from the 4-1 win over St Johnstone, with Arnason replacing Gary Mackay-Steven. Motherwell too made just the one switch, with Charles Dunne out and Stephen Hendrie in.
The game was a dry run for the Scottish Cup semi-final a week on Saturday, with the Dons having already won at Fir Park earlier in the season. Stephen Robinson’s side, however, leads the head-to-head record 2-1 this season, including a 3-0 win in the League Cup quarter-final in September.
Greg Stewart, fresh from his brace against St Johnstone on Saturday, had the first meaningful opportunity of the game on 19 minutes. Drifting past Hendrie, Stewart cut infield and went to beat Trevor Carson from a tight angle but clipped his shot over the bar.
McLean was next to try his luck when Stewart picked him out with a back-post cross, however Hendrie back-pedalled into position to block.
A cross-shot from Andrew Considine only needed a tap-in to give the visitors the lead but there were no takers, as a tepid first half drew to a close bereft of any real quality.
‘Well defender Tom Aldred met a Chris Cadden corner three minutes into the second half and after bundling Scott McKenna out of the way, could not direct his header on target.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play on 65 minutes with an in-swinging McLean header met by the unmarked Arnason, who headed home past Carson.
They capitalised further three minutes later with a neat one-two between McLean and Stewart, with the former curling beyond Carson from just inside the box.
‘Well had the wind knocked out of their sails and struggled to stage any sort of fightback, with defeat ending their hopes of making the top six.