Adam Rooney’s 20th goal of the season helped the Dons all but seal second spot in the Scottish Premiership at Hearts.
Rooney scored the opener in his side’s 2-1 win at Hearts with the victory giving the Dons a nine point lead on third placed Rangers and a vastly superior goal difference with three games of the league campaign remaining.
Dons captain Ryan Jack missed out with a groin injury suffered in training while Ryan Christie dropped to the substitutes’ bench.
Mark Reynolds, on his 30th birthday, and Peter Pawlett took their place in the starting line-up.
Hosts Hearts also made two changes to the side which drew with Partick with defender Aaron Hughes, who signed a new one-year deal on Friday, making his first since February while Lennar Sowah also returned in place of Liam Smith and Moha Choulay who dropped to the bench.
This was the last game in front of 103-year-old Main Stand at Gorgie and the Dons were in no mood to let Hearts make it a memorable occasion for their support as they dominated the first half at Tynecastle.
The only surprise for Derek McInnes was that his side only had one goal to show for their efforts at the break.
It came in the 21st minute with Adam Rooney prodding home the rebound after Hearts goalkeeper Jack Hamilton had failed to hold Pawlett’s 20-yard drive.
Hearts had to improve following an awful first half showing and they did just that, scoring an equaliser just after the hour mark when substitute Liam Smith’s cross found Esmael Goncalves and he beat Joe Lewis with a downward header.
But the home side were not level for long with the Dons regaining the lead in the 64th minute.
Anthony O’Connor was the scorer, the substitute rising above the Hearts defence to head Jonny Hayes’ free kick past Hamilton with the home defence posted missing.
Hearts pushed for an equaliser but failed to trouble Lewis and their misery was complete when Jamie Walker was sent off for a foul on Graeme Shinnie.
