Not the prettiest of games but Graeme Shinnie’s winner against Dundee could prove hugely important for the Dons should they go on to achieve a fourth successive runners-up finish in the Scottish Premiership.
The dreadful state of the Pittodrie pitch is making it impossible for the Dons to play in an attractive style on their own patch but this was a vital victory for Derek McInnes’ men.
The Dons, still on a high from their Scottish Cup shootout success against Kilmarnock in midweek, could not have hoped for a better weekend as they moved four points clear of fourth-placed Hibernian and only two points behind rivals Rangers with a game in hand.
Hibernian’s 1-1 draw at St Johnstone on Friday coupled with the Ibrox side’s surprise home defeat by Killie on Saturday means the Dons head into the international break with plenty of positivity after a scrappy but fully deserved victory against hapless Dundee.
Aberdeen were without a goal in three league matches but they have had Dundee’s number over the years. The Dark Blues were without a league victory against the Dons since 2004 – and they never looked like ending that run on a freezing cold day at Pittodrie.
McInnes freshened up the side that required extra time and penalties to eventually defeat Killie and set up a Scottish Cup semi-final against Motherwell, with Stevie May and Chidi Nwakali brought in for Adam Rooney and Gary Mackay-Steven.
After seeing his side thumped 4-0 at home by St Johnstone last weekend, Dundee manager Neil McCann made five changes. Glen Kamara and Paul McGowan returned after suspension, while captain Darren O’Dea, Kevin Holt and Sofien Moussa also returned.
There was little to excite the 15,208 supporters during a bland first half, although the Dons should have scored after 21 minutes when Josh Meekings cleared a Niall McGinn cross straight to the unmarked Shay Logan but the defender cannoned his effort into team-mate Kenny McLean, who was flagged offside.
The game’s turning point arrived with half an hour played when A-Jay Leitch-Smith beat the offside trap to race on to a searching pass from O’Dea but the Dark Blues forward wasted a glorious opportunity by shooting weakly at Dons goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
The Reds took full advantage of that let-off 10 minutes before the break, helped by some poor Dundee defending.
Dark Blues goalkeeper Elliott Parish flapped at a Ryan Christie cross under pressure from Niall McGinn to gift Shinnie the easiest of finishes as he stroked the ball into an empty net for his third goal of the campaign.
While the first half was fairly even, the Dons dominated the second period but were unable to add to their tally.
McGinn almost doubled the lead in the opening minute of the second half with a sweetly struck left-footed volley that flew over the crossbar.
The Dons went close again after 54 minutes when Parish spilled Nwakali’s long-range drive but the Dundee stopper made amends by thwarting Christie on the follow-up.
May had a goal ruled out for a foul on Kevin Holt late on but it mattered not as the Dons held on for all three points.
It was another clean sheet for Woodman, Aberdeen’s hero from Tuesday’s victory at Rugby Park with his three penalty saves earning him a spot in the England under-21 squad for their upcoming games against Romania and Ukraine.
But it will be interesting to see if Woodman retains his place when the Dons return to action on March 31 at home to St Johnstone.
Joe Lewis is nearing a return from the knee injury that has sidelined him since the 2-0 defeat by Rangers in January and is expected to feature for the Dons development side when they take on St Mirren today.
Saturday’s performance may well be the last time Woodman features for the Dons but his penalty-saving heroics will ensure he won’t be forgotten in a hurry, especially if the Dons defeat Motherwell next month to reach another Scottish Cup final.
ABERDEEN (4-2-3-1) – Woodman 6, Logan 6, Considine 6, O’Connor 7, McKenna 7, Shinnie 7, Nwakali 6 (Stewart 72), McLean 7, Christie 6, McGinn 6 (Mackay-Steven 90), May 6 (Rooney 90). Subs not used – Rogers, Arnason, Ball, Cosgrove.
DUNDEE (3-5-2) – Parish 5, Holt 6, Caulker 6, O’Dea 6, Leitch-Smith 5, Kamara 6, Moussa 4 (Murray 46), O’Hara 6, McGowan 5, Deacon 6, Meekings 6 (Kerr 78). Subs not used – Ferrie, Aurtenetxe, El Bakhtaoui, Curran, Lambert.
Referee – Willie Collum 5.
Attendance: 15,208.
Man of the match: Graeme Shinnie.
