It can be hard to reach the top but it is even harder to stay there.
Aberdeen made it a magnificent seven wins to increase their lead at the Scottish Premiership’s summit to five points but they were made to work for it against a stuffy Hamilton Accies.
The performance did not reach the heights of Saturday’s 2-1 success against Celtic but the Dons managed to grind out the victory thanks to Adam Rooney’s first half penalty.
Hamilton enjoyed plenty of possession and chances but the Dons managed to hold out for the win and ensure they maintained their perfect start to the season ahead of this Sunday’s trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts.
Aberdeen were in confident mood after beating Celtic 2-1 on Saturday to set a new club record of six successive wins at the start of the league campaign.
Northern Ireland international Ryan McLaughlin, who joined the Dons on loan from Liverpool last month, was handed his Aberdeen debut in place of Shay Logan, while Willo Flood stepped in for Paul Quinn, who had to be content with a place on the bench after scoring the winner against the Hoops at the weekend.
The Accies had won three league matches on the spin before slumping to a 4-1 defeat at St Johnstone on Saturday.
Despite their poor weekend showing, player-manager Martin Canning made only one alteration, replacing on-loan Norwich City forward Carlton Morris with former Raith Rovers forward Christian Nade.
Hamilton had not scored on their last four visits to Pittodrie but they were gifted an early chance when careless play by Kenny McLean allowed Nade an early sight of goal but his effort was deflected over.
The visitors were keen to test debutant McLaughlin in the early stages but the 20-year-old stood up to the challenge and displayed a willingness to break forward at every opportunity.
Aberdeen’s first chance to test Michael McGovern arrived after 18 minutes with a free kick 25 yards from goal but Niall McGinn’s curling effort was well clawed away by his Northern Ireland teammate in the Hamilton goal.
But the Dons had an even better opportunity to break the deadlock five minutes later when Ziggy Gordon sent Graeme Shinnie tumbling to the ground with a rash challenge, which prompted referee Crawford Allan to point to the spot.
The Hamilton players were incensed, arguing that Gordon had won the ball, but when calm had been restored Rooney blasted home from 12 yards.
Accies had a penalty appeal of their own moments later but referee Allan opted to book Dougie Imrie for simulation after he tumbled to the ground under pressure from Ash Taylor.
Hamilton were forced into an early change when central midfielder Darian MacKinnon limped off and was replaced by Greg Docherty with only 34 minutes on the clock.
The visitors continued to push forward and almost levelled in spectacular fashion when Grant Gillespie’s blistering volley from 20 yards whistled past the post.
The Dons made a bright start to the second period with McGinn linking up well with Jonny Hayes on the left flank before producing a dangerous cross that was headed clear by Antons Kurakins before Rooney could pounce.
Hamilton reminded Aberdeen that they were still very much in the game with Ali Crawford almost finding Nade after some neat build-up play from the visitors.
Derek McInnes’ side needed a second goal to kill off Hamilton’s hopes of taking anything from this match and it almost came on the hour mark.
Dons captain Ryan Jack picked out the unmarked Rooney only four yards out but McGovern managed to tip the Irishman’s header over the bar with a superb stop.
The Dons had a lucky escape after 67 minutes when Gramoz Kurtaj’s low drive deflected off Taylor and trickled inches past the post with Danny Ward well beaten.
Aberdeen needed something to spark them into life and McInnes opted to send on Logan and Josh Parker for the impressive McLaughlin and the tiring Hayes.
The Dons almost netted the decisive second goal after 77 minutes when McGinn crashed a thunderous volley off the underside of the crossbar with McGovern rooted to the spot.
Parker, the on-loan Red Star Belgrade forward, should have put the result beyond doubt in the closing stages when he was sent through on goal by Flood but the attacker hesitated at the vital moment, allowing Jesus Garcia Tena to make a last-ditch challenge.
The Dons were forced to play the closing minutes with only 10 men after Taylor was forced off following a clash of heads with Lucas Tagliapietra.