Niall McGinn conjured up a moment of sublime quality to help Aberdeen regain second spot in the Scottish Premiership with a 3-0 victory against Dundee at Pittodrie last night.
Ryan Jack’s first goal for almost two years sent Aberdeen on their way before McGinn doubled the advantage just before the break.
It was a goal of the season contender and the Northern Ireland international got back on the scoresheet with 10 minutes remaining, heading home a Jonny Hayes cross for his eighth goal in eight games.
The 29-year-old has entered the final six months of his contract and, in this form, there will be no shortage of clubs desperate to take him away from Pittodrie.
The Dons remain optimistic the player can be persuaded to sign a new deal and it is easy to see why the club are desperate to keep the player at the club.
This was a comfortable night’s work for the Dons against a below-par Dundee but a tougher test awaits when they travel to Celtic Park on Wednesday.
But they will head to the east end of Glasgow full of confidence after recording five wins on the spin.
Aberdeen’s new loan signing Ryan Christie had to be content with a place on the bench as Dons manager Derek McInnes kept faith with the same starting line-up that had delivered four successive wins.
The teams came into this match on the back of contrasting fortunes in last weekend’s Scottish Cup. The Dons brushed aside Stranraer with a comfortable 4-0 victory to set-up a last-16 encounter with Ross County, while Dundee fell at the first hurdle with a 2-0 home defeat by Championship strugglers St Mirren.
The Dark Blues, without an away win since October, made two alterations with Kevin Gomis and Nick Ross coming in for Kevin Holt and Faissal El Bakhtaoui. Former Caley Thistle midfielder James Vincent missed out after his wife gave birth to a daughter.
Dundee manager Paul Hartley underlined his need to strengthen his squad before the transfer window closes by naming only five substitutes on the bench.
The visitors created the game’s first chance with former Peterhead loan player Cammy Kerr crossing for Marcus Haber but Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis was equal to the Canadian’s first-time effort.
Hartley’s side had settled quickly and were inches away from taking the lead in the 10th minute when Paul McGowan’s audacious lobbed attempt from 25 yards bounced back off the crossbar with Lewis beaten.
The Dons supporters were getting restless but their side finally came to life in the 15th minute when a Mark Reynolds shot was headed off the line by Mark O’Hara with a tantalising in-swinging cross from Jonny Hayes bouncing back off the post moments later.
Craig Wighton had ball in the back of the net in the 21st minute but the goal was chalked off for offside with minimal protests from the Dundee players indicating it was probably the right call.
The action was coming thick and fast with a sweetly-struck McGinn free kick drawing a superb save from Bain.
A goal was coming and it finally arrived after 29 minutes.
Niall McGinn twisted his way past Nick Ross to manufacture a yard of space on the left flank before sending a teasing cross into the penalty area that was powerfully headed home by Dons captain Jack.
The Dons almost doubled their advantage nine minutes before the break when Adam Rooney fed Kenny McLean but Bain again came to the rescue for Dundee.
But a moment of magic from McGinn on the stroke of half-time gave Aberdeen their second.
A long ball from Shay Logan was flicked on by Ash Taylor to McGinn, who controlled the ball with his right knee before volleying home with left foot from 25 yards.
Aberdeen, well in control by now, almost grabbed a third just before the hour mark with McLean and Graeme Shinnie both denied by Bain before Jonny Hayes blasted wide.
The Dons should really have been out of sight but found Bain in inspired form with the Dundee stopper making another fine stop to prevent Adam Rooney getting on the scoresheet.
Dundee substitute Faissal El Bakhtaoui went close to pulling one back for the visitors with a finely-struck long-range effort.
But, with 10 minutes to go, the Dons added a third with McGinn perfectly placed to head home a Hayes cross and put the result beyond doubt.
Christie made his first appearance as a Dons player, replacing Hayes with eight minutes to go but the night belonged to man of the match McGinn.