This may have been the last meeting between Aberdeen and Dundee United for a while – and it turned out to be a controversial old affair.
Two disallowed goals, a player booked for simulation and a manager sent to the stands – and that was all within the opening 37 minutes.
Simon Church headed home his third goal in five games for the Dons to break the deadlock after 29 minutes before Derek McInnes received his marching orders from referee Bobby Madden after Graeme Shinnie was booked for simulation.
Relegation-threatened United had their chances to restore parity in the second half but the Dons held on for a valuable victory.
It was Aberdeen’s first win in three games following defeat by Caley Thistle and Saturday’s 1-1 draw with St Johnstone and reduces the gap at the top to four points after Celtic were held to a goal-less draw by Dundee.
With 10 games left and a possible 30 points remaining, it is once again all to play for in the title race.
The 2,500 Dons supporters helped create a noisy atmosphere but there wasn’t much to get excited about during a tentative start to proceedings.
It took 15 minutes before the first attempt at goal but Aberdeen goalkeeper Scott Brown was equal to Gavin Gunning’s volley.
Aberdeen gradually began to find their rhythm with United defender Mark Durnan making a last-ditch challenge to prevent Church converting Graeme Shinnie’s inviting cross in the visitors’ first real foray forward.
A dull match suddenly came to life in the 28th minute when a McLean cross was slotted home by Simon Church but the goal was chalked off for offside.
But Dundee United failed to learn from that reprieve.
Within 60 seconds Logan sent another wicked delivery into the box and again Church applied the finishing touch with a well-timed header – and this time it counted.
They thought they had a second soon after when Paul Dixon turned a Niall McGinn shot past his own goalkeeper but referee Bobby Madden again ruled out the strike, instead opting to book Shinnie for simulation for falling under pressure from Gunning earlier in the move.
The Dons were furious, particularly Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes who was sent to the stands for his protestations.
Dundee United made a change at the break with Florent Sinama-Pongolle, who had contributed nothing to the United cause, replaced by Henri Anier.
The Estonian international was involved straightaway, latching onto a cute pass from Billy Mckay before being thwarted by an impeccably-timed tackle from Ash Taylor.
At the other end, McLean flashed a volley wide from a Robson corner before Church failed to take advantage of some careless play by Mark Durnan.
Reynolds was brought on for Pawlett as the Dons reverted to a five-man defence in a bid to stem United’s flow.
The Dons were still looking dangerous on the counter and McLean had a decent chance to double the advantage but dragged his shot wide with his weaker right foot.
With United caught chasing the game, Church passed up an even better opening soon after when he sliced horribly wide from 10 yards out with only the goalkeeper to beat.
They could have paid for those misses as the home side went painfully close to an equaliser in injury time but Edward Ofere’s attempt was superbly kept out by Brown.