Adam Rooney’s penalty three minutes from time helped Aberdeen extend their lead on third placed Hearts to seven points at Pittodrie.
Rooney’s late goal settled a scrappy game in the Dons’ favour as they moved to within a point of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The Dons were without attacker Niall McGinn who had failed to recover from the groin strain he exacerbated in the win at Dundee last weekend. His absence meant one enforced change with his replacement at Dens Park, Peter Pawlett, replacing the Northern Ireland international in the starting line-up.
In McGinn’s absence Jonny Hayes took on the mantle of tormentor in chief for the Dons and he drew several fouls from the overrun and overworked Hearts defence in the first half as Aberdeen swarmed over the opposition in search of an opener.
But for all Aberdeen’s pressure they could not find a breakthrough in the first half. Andy Considine missed a great chance when he rose to meet a Hayes free kick only to head straight at Neil Alexander before Kenny McLean saw his long range effort saved by the Jambos goalkeeper.
Dons manager Derek McInnes made a change at the break with captain Ryan Jack replacing Mark Reynolds, who ended the first half with a bloodied nose and with the change resulting in a reshuffle defensively the visitors came close to capitalising through midfielder Sam Nicholson, who cracked a 25 yard shot off the crossbar.
Juanma Delgado then saw his shot saved by Ward before Willo Flood cleared an Osman Sow header off the line as Hearts enjoyed their best spell of the game.
But the visitors’ hopes of earning a point were scuppered three minutes from time when Jordan McGhee inexplicably handled a Jonny Hayes cross in the box, giving Rooney the chance to seal the points from the spot for McInnes’ side.