Aberdeen romped to a stunning 3-0 win against Motherwell at Fir Park to close the gap on third-placed Well to a point in the Scottish Premiership.
Sam Cosgrove, Niall McGinn and Zak Vyner got the goals as the Dons ran out comfortable winners against Stephen Robinson’s side.
Dons boss Derek McInnes made five changes from the side which drew 1-1 with Hibernian before the international break.
Mikey Devlin, Niall McGinn, Jon Gallagher, James Wilson and Zak Vyner were the players called into the team with Lewis Ferguson and Curtis Main missing due to suspension while Ethan Ross dropped out and Dean Campbell and Ryan Hedges were named on the bench.
Stephen Gleeson was also named on the subs bench for the first time this season following a knee injury along with Craig Bryson.
Aberdeen made the worst possible start by gifting Well an early penalty after Shay Logan failed to get enough power on his pass back to goalkeeper Joe Lewis and Christopher Long beat the Dons captain to the ball and was sent sprawling by the outstretched foot of the skipper.
Lewis redeemed himself however with a superb one handed save to turn James Scott’s spot kick over the crossbar.
Having survived their early scare the Dons promptly opened the scoring when Greg Leigh, playing in midfield, played a superb ball through to Sam Cosgrove and the striker beat Mark Gillespie with a fine lob.
It remained 1-0 to the Dons at the interval but they wasted little time in doubling their lead at the start of the second half when Niall McGinn dispossessed Allan Campbell before beating Gillespie with a fine curling finish from the edge of the box.
By the hour mark it was 3-0 as Zak Vyner got in on the act, turning his marker from 25 yards before firing a low shot which fizzled past Gillespie.
