A Gary Warren own-goal gave Aberdeen all three points against Caley Thistle at Pittodrie.
The Dons dominated for long spells but could not find a second goal but the one goal was enough as Aberdeen withheld some pressure from the visitors in injury time.
Derek McInnes kept the same starting 11 which thrashed Dundee 7-0 at Dens Park on Friday while Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran made four changes to the team which drew 1-1 with Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Kevin McNaughton made his first start since August as he made his return to Pittodrie while Henri Anier, Liam Polworth and Carl Tremarco all returned. Brad McKay, Jamie McCart, Billy King and Larnell Cole dropped to the bench.
Aberdeen made all the early running but it was Inverness who came closest to an opening goal when a superb turn from Liam Polworth took the midfielder away from Graeme Shinnie and the Caley Jags man played in Billy Mckay but his shot was turned around the post by Dons goalkeeper Joe Lewis.
The chance spurned the Dons into action and Shinnie went close with a low 25 yard drive which Owain Fon Williams turned round his post and from the resulting corner, Jonny Hayes’ delivery was deflected past Fon Williams by Inverness captain Gary Warren who was under pressure from Andy Considine and Ashton Taylor.
A fine save from Dons goalkeeper Lewis to turn a Polworth drive past the post maintained Aberdeen’s lead while visiting manager Foran gambled in the hope of finding an equaliser with Larnell Cole and Dean Ebbe coming off the bench but it was the Dons who looked more likely to score with Fon Williams saving a Shinnie header on the line.
Former Caley Thistle forward Miles Storey somehow squandered an incredible chance to put the game beyond his former club when he met a Hayes cross but the attacker stood on the ball on the goalline and was unable to knock the ball in to the astonishment of everyone in the stadium.
In the end the miss did not matter.
