Aberdeen ended a six game winless run with a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Scottish Premiership strugglers Dundee United.
Adam Rooney scrambled the ball home from close range to break the deadlock after 51 minutes before Jonny Hayes netted the second with 17 minutes remaining.
The result leaves United at the foot of the table with only eight points from 14 matches, while the Dons remain a point behind second place Hearts and four adrift of Celtic, who take on Ross County tomorrow.
It has been a testing period for the Dons, who will be delighted to go into an international break with the win.
Niall McGinn was the surprise absentee from the Aberdeen teamsheet as the Dons made two changes from the side beaten 3-1 by Celtic last weekend.
Andrew Considine, who was substituted 23 minutes into the Parkhead match, also dropped out with Willo Flood, the former Dundee United midfielder, and Peter Pawlett both called into action.
Bottom of the league Dundee United made only one alteration from the team beaten 3-0 by Hibernian in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday with Paul Dixon replacing Aaron Kuhl.
Aberdeen made a determined start to proceedings and almost opened the scoring with eight minutes on the clock when a deep cross from Shay Logan was drilled back across goal by Jonny Hayes but United defender Ryan McGowan managed to divert the ball to safety.
In the 16th minute, the Aberdeen supporters paid tribute to Bailey Gwynne, the 16-year-old Cults Academy who died last week after being stabbed during a lunch break.
United were living dangerously and almost gifted Aberdeen the lead when Mark Durnan nearly sliced a Graeme Shinnie cross into his own net.
The visitors had a rare foray forward after 25 minutes with Blair Spittal’s deflected effort dipping narrowly over the crossbar.
Aberdeen remained the game’s dominant force with Shinnie’s low shot from a Kenny McLean cross kept out by an excellent Michal Szromnik stop.
United were growing in confidence while the game remained goal-less and created another nervy moment for the home support 10 minutes before the break when Ash Taylor hooked a dangerous cross from Sean Dillon clear with Billy Mckay ready to pounce.
There was another let-off soon after when Dons captain Ryan Jack surrendered possession to Scott Fraser who should have done better than curl wide with only Danny Ward to beat.
United fashioned the first opening after the break with Sean Dillon floating a cross to the back post for Fraser who headed over.
But it was the Dons who broke the deadlock after 51 minutes when Szromnik failed to deal with a driven Hayes cross and Rooney bundled the ball over the line.
United went close to restoring parity with just over 20 minutes remaining when Taylor’s headed clearance fell to Fraser whose left-footed effort trickled inches past the post with Ward beaten.
It was getting nervy for the host but Hayes put the result beyond doubt after 73 minutes when he latched on to a Pawlett pass and rifled the ball into the bottom corner beyond Szromnik.