Adam Rooney’s penalty gave Aberdeen their second win at Glebe Park in a week as the Dons beat St Johnstone in Brechin in their final pre-season game before their Europa League qualifier against KF Shkendija in Macedonia.
New loan signing from Liverpool, goalkeeper Danny Ward, was named on the bench with Scott Brown again starting in goal but midfielder Kenny McLean missed the game.
Former Don Joe Shaughnessy started against his old club while forward John Sutton, a summer recruit from Motherwell, led the line for the Perth side.
It was the former Well attacker who almost broke the deadlock inside the opening 10 minutes when he intercepted Mark Reynolds’ attempted header back to goalkeeper Scott Brown but the Dons goalkeeper was equal to the task, making a point black save to turn his header past the post.
The meeting of two organised top flight sides ensured chances were at a premium at Glebe Park in Brechin and it took until five minutes before the interval for the Dons to threaten with Jonny Hayes seeing his long range strike saved by Saints goalkeeper Alan Mannus.
New loan signing from Liverpool, goalkeeper Danny Ward, made his debut in the second half and he played the role of sweeper behind his back four.
The Dons took the initiative in the final 20 minutes with Adam Rooney testing Mannus before a trip from Liam Caddis on Niall McGinn resulted in a penalty for Aberdeen.
Rooney converted the spot kick, sending Mannus the wrong way, to seal the win for the Dons ahead of their European trip.