A Cammy Smith header helped Aberdeen close the gap on leaders Celtic to five points with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Kilmarnock.
Adam Rooney’s 26th goal of the season gave the Dons a well-earned half time lead but Killie midfielder Craig Slater equalised with a long range strike three minutes after the restart.
Killie were much improved in the second period but it was the Dons who claimed the points when Smith nodded home a Niall McGinn cross after 69 minutes.
Slater missed a last-minute penalty in a nervy finale after Dons stopper Scott Brown had been penalised for a foul on Lee Miller.
Dons manager Derek McInnes again shuffled his pack, making three alterations to the side that defeated Caley Thistle 1-0 with Cammy Smith, Kenny McLean and Donervorn Daniels stepping in for Ash Taylor, Barry Robson and Peter Pawlett.
Kilmarnock also made three changes with Alexei Eremenko, Craig Slater and Sammy Clingan recalled at the expense of Ross Barbour, Paul Cairney and former Don Lee Miller.
Killie appeared content to sit back and allow the Dons plenty of early possession and they were almost made to pay when leading scorer Adam Rooney went close with a glancing header from a delicious McGinn delivery.
The Dons upped the ante against a bedraggled and disjointed Killie defence and almost made the breakthrough when Smith’s low drive was superbly stopped by Craig Samson and Rooney was unable to force the ball home on the rebound.
Despite their dominance, the Dons had a lucky escape when they were almost caught on the counter-attack but Tope Obadeyi appeared to be harshly penalised for a foul on Willo Flood.
It was only a matter of time before the visitors grabbed the opening goal and it duly arrived five minutes from the interval.
A McGinn free kick caught a static Killie rearguard napping and Daniels laid the ball across goal for Rooney to steer home from close range.
However Killie restored parity within three minutes of the restart courtesy of a sumptuous strike from Slater.
It was Gary Locke’s side’s first shot on target and the well-struck effort flew past the despairing Scott Brown to the delight of the home support.
Jonny Hayes’ low drive was superbly stopped by Samson before the Dons were denied a decent claim for a penalty when McGinn tumbled under pressure Killie captain Lee Ashcroft.
Aberdeen reclaimed the lead in controversial circumstances in the 72nd minute.
Killie felt they should have been awarded a free kick for a foul on Magennis by Mark Reynolds but referee Beaton saw nothing untoward, allowing the Dons to break forward with Smith heading home a McGinn cross.
There was still time for some late drama in injury time when Dons goalkeeper Brown conceded a penalty for a foul on Miller but the Dons goalkeeper redeemed himself by saving Slater’s weak effort from the spot.