An injury time winner from Niall McGinn gave Aberdeen a well -deserved 1-0 win against Motherwell and moved the Dons nine points clear of Rangers with 10 games to go.
The Dons dominated the match but Steelmen stopper Craig Samson produced a series of excellent saves that looked to have earned his side a point.
But McGinn netted in the second minute of injury time to win the match as the Dons recorded eight successive home wins for the first time since Alex Ferguson’s side managed the feat during the 1985-86 campaign.
Anthony O’Connor replaced the suspended Andrew Considine, while captain Ryan Jack returned from an ankle injury with Peter Pawlett dropping to the bench.
Motherwell, beaten 7-2 at Pittodrie last month, made three alterations from the team that defeated Kilmarnock 2-1 last Saturday with Ryan Bowman, David Ferguson and Craig Clay stepping in for Richard Tait, Louis Moult and Keith Lasley.
The Dons, lining up in a 3-5-2 formation, started well with Kenny McLean the first to try his luck, cutting inside past Zak Jules before curling over.
McLean turned provider moments later, picking out Adam Rooney with a delicious cross that was nodded over. The Irishman then dragged a shot wide after 17 minutes when he should have released Niall McGinn.
Motherwell slowly began to push forward with Scott McDonald going close with a dipping effort from outside of the penalty area before Ben Heneghan headed wide.
Aberdeen almost broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when Rooney diverted a Jayden Stockley shot on target but Motherwell stopper Craig Samson did well to tip the ball over the crossbar.
The Dons continued to press for the opener before the break with McGinn testing Samson from range and Ash Taylor heading over from close range.
Samson produced another excellent save to deny a powerful drive from McGinn as the Dons ended the half on top but without a goal to show for their efforts.
The pressure intensified after the break with Rooney almost converting a McLean cross before Jack nodded inches wide from a McGinn delivery.
The Dons really should have taken the lead after 66 minutes when a sumptuous cross from McLean found the unmarked Shinnie who somehow volleyed over from four yards out.
Aberdeen needed a spark of imagination to prise open the Motherwell defence and sent on Ryan Christie for Rooney with 17 minutes to go.
The game looked set to end in a stalemate but in the second minute of injury time Hayes picked out McGinn who found the bottom corner to win the match for the Dons.