ANALYSIS: Goal hero Bojan Miovski is lethal at Pittodrie but must find his scoring touch on the road

Striker Bojan Miovksi’s lethal touch at Pittodrie is proving pivotal to Aberdeen’s bid to finish third in the Premiership.

Yet again the North Macedonian international was on the scoresheet in the Granite City when scoring the vital penalty in a 1-0 victory against Dundee United.

It was a goal that ensured the Dons go into the five-week winter break holding third place in the Premiership.

The Reds’ target is to remain in that position until the end of the season.

Miovski’s converted spot-kick elevated him to joint top of the Premiership scoring charts with Rangers £1.8 million signing Antonio Colak.

Summer signing Miovski has scored 10 goals in seven Premiership appearances at Pittodrie this season.

That accounts for 91% of the striker’s Premiership total so far, with only one league goal away from home.

The North Macedonian international has scored 10 of 20 shots at Pittodrie in the league this season (50%) which is an emphatic conversion rate.

Away from Pittodrie he has netted just one goal from 18 shots, a meagre conversion rate of just 6%,

Miovski’s goal scoring form is a mirror reflection of Aberdeen.

Dominant at home, struggling on the road.

They go hand in hand. If Miovski can start scoring on the road it can be a major propellant to ending Aberdeen’s away day woes and cementing the bid to finish third.

Miovski pays back manager’s faith

Miovski’s winning goal was pay back for manager Jim Goodwin retaining faith in the summer signing as his main penalty taker.

The 23-year-old had missed a spot kick in the 2-1 loss at Livingston on Tuesday when the Dons were two goals down.

Aberdeen were later awarded another penalty against Livi but Duk was given spot kick duties ahead of Miovski, and converted.

Despite that spot-kick switch against Livi, Goodwin insisted Miovski would remain Aberdeen’s first-choice penalty taker.

The striker, a £535,000 signing from MTK Budapest, rewarded that faith by converting a spot kick in the first half.

His calmly converted penalty ensured Aberdeen won five league games in row at Pittodrie for the first time since April 2017 under former boss Derek McInnes.

Revenge for Tannadice humiliation

It also gained revenge for a humiliating 4-0 loss to Dundee United at Tannadice on October 6.

That was the Reds’ worst performance this season following a major summer reconstruction where 11 new players were signed.

Although Dundee United are bottom of the Premiership the Dons had to fight and graft for the three points in a nervy derby clash at Pittodrie.

There were two changes to the Aberdeen starting XI that lost 2-1 to Livingston on Tuesday, both in the wing-back roles.

Left wing back Jack MacKenzie dropped to the bench to be replaced by Hayden Coulson.

On the right Matty Kennedy came in for Jayden Richardson who was named as a substitute.

Aberdeen were the first to threaten in the 12h minute when Kennedy blasted over from 18 yards.

Miovski nets 12th goal of the season

Strike duo Miovski and Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes had been contained by Dundee United.

However the duo exploded into life in the 37th minute when Aberdeen powered upfield on the counter-attack.

Assistant referee Graeme Stewart had flagged for an offside but referee Willie Collum waved play on as Miovski raced up the flank on the break.

Miovski then slid a superb defence-splitting crossfield pass to strike partner Duk.

Cape Verde international Duk took a touch and bore down on goal but keeper Mark Birighitti raced off his line to bundle over the striker.

Miovski sent Birighitti the wrong way with a clinically converted penalty.

It was nearly 2-0 in the 43rd minute when Ross Graham completely misjudged the flight of the ball and left it.

Duk capitalised and gained possession.

The striker lobbed the keeper who was way off his line – but the effort flashed across goal and wide of the far post.

Aberdeen dig deep to grind out win

Aberdeen threatened in the 53rd minute when Kennedy delivered an inswinging corner kick to the near post.

Ross McCrorie raced in front of his marker to meet the ball but shot from five yards into the side netting.

In the 59th minute McCrorie came close again when his 15-yard shot beat keeper Birighitti.

However Kieran Freeman was well placed to head clear six yards out to prevent it going in the net.

Dundee United carved an opening when Fletcher found space to meet a Levitt cross but headed straight at keeper Kelle Roos.

The visitors again threated when Roos was forced to tip a left footed volley over the bar from Graham in the 75th minute.

Aberdeen should have made it 2-0 and eradicated any late nerves when Duk played Kennedy through on goal but he blasted high over the bar with only the keeper to beat.

ABERDEEN (3-1-4-2): Roos 6; McCrorie 8, Stewart 7, Scales 7; Ramadani 7; Kennedy 7, Barron 7, Clarkson 7 (Besuijen 88), Coulson 7 (MacKenzie 77); Miovski 7 (Watkins 77), Duk 7 (Duncan 88)

Subs not used: Lewis, Morris,  Richardson, Milne, Ramirez.

DUNDEE UNITED (3-4-2-1): Birighitti 6; Smith 6, Edwards 6, Graham 6; Freeman 7, Sibbald 6 (Harkes 67), Levitt 7 (Meekison 90), Behich 6 (Anaku 67); McGrath 6 (Pawlett 84), Middleton 6; Fletcher 6.

Subs not used: Eriksson, McMann, Niskanen, Djoum,  Watt.

Referee: Willie Collum

Attendance: 17,035

Man-of-the-match: Ross McCrorie (Aberdeen)