The Dons proved they are more than ready for Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final with Hibernian with a hard-earned victory against St Johnstone which secured European football for a fourth successive season.
The Dons were in imperious form until last Sunday’s surprise capitulation against Rangers.
With a Hampden date against the Scottish Cup holders just around the corner, manager Derek McInnes wanted his players to get that result out of their system with a victory at McDiarmid Park.
It wasn’t pretty and by no means Aberdeen’s finest 90 minutes of the season, but his side managed to grind out a narrow 2-1 victory in a feisty, ill-tempered encounter, which has become the norm between these teams.
The result ensures the Dons are guaranteed a top three finish and will have European football to look forward to next season. Such an achievement would have been met with scenes of jubilation in the past but this accomplishment is almost expected such has been the progress made.
The Dons made one enforced change from the team beaten by Rangers with Ryan Christie replacing Niall McGinn, who missed out because of a groin injury but is expected to be fit for Saturday’s semi-final.
This was not the game McInnes would have wanted on the eve of a cup semi-final with players thundering into challenges all over the pitch in a full-blooded 90 minutes.
The Dons made the breakthrough after 19 minutes when Christie sidestepped challenges from Tom Scobbie and Paul Paton before scoring beyond Alan Mannus and the visitors extended the advantage in the 32nd minute when a delicious cross from Jonny Hayes was turned into his own net by Scobbie.
The goal prompted St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright to make his first change only five minutes later with Danny Swanson introduced for Blair Alston.
The Perth Saints looked eager to make amends for a sluggish first-half display after the interval and were awarded a penalty only three minutes into the second half.
Steven MacLean, the former Don, went to ground far too easily under minimal pressure from Anthony O’Connor but referee Bobby Madden pointed to the spot and Swanson converted from 12 yards.
Former Dundee United midfielder Swanson should have levelled eight minutes later when he was gifted a free shot on goal after a mix-up in the Dons defence, but his composure deserted him at the vital moment.
It was a nervy end to the game for the Dons, who struggled to get out of their own half for long spells, but held on for the three points.
No one would have been more pleased than Ash Taylor and O’Connor, Aberdeen’s central defensive pairing who came under scrutiny following the defeat to Rangers.
The pair looked shaky at times, but generally stood up well to the sustained spells of St Johnstone pressure.
Another resolute performance against the Hibernian front pairing of Grant Holt and Jason Cummings will be required on Saturday.
Dons captain Ryan Jack also appeared unaffected by the transfer speculation linking him with a move to Rangers that was promptly dismissed as nonsense by McInnes as he produced another effective performance.
But it was Kenny McLean who again caught the eye with another impressive display.
The former St Mirren player was forced to do more defending than usual, but relished the physical confrontation with St Johnstone’s tough-tackling midfielder Paton.
The Scotland cap will be key if the Dons are to move a step closer to a first Scottish Cup win since 1990 by defeating Hibernian this weekend.
The victory took Aberdeen’s goal tally up to 63 for the season – their best return since the 1992-93 campaign – and with five games left to play there is plenty of time for them to add more.
But the full focus now is on Hibernian, who confirmed their return to the top flight by winning the Championship on Saturday.