Aberdeen gained an early psychological advantage of their Scottish Cup semi-final opponents Motherwell with a 2-0 win at Fir Park.
Kari Arnason and Kenny McLean netted in the space of three minutes to quell a promising start to the second period by Well, sending the Dons three points clear of Rangers in second place.
Arnason came back in for the Dons in their only change, slotting in the back four alongside Scott McKenna. Anthony O’Connor moved into midfield as manager Derek McInnes opted for three in the middle of the park.
Both teams could use this as a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup semi-final in 10 days time at Hampden, with the Steelmen having already got the better of Aberdeen in knockout competition earlier this season.
That 3-0 win in the Betfred Cup quarter-final put Motherwell en-route to their first final of the season and needed a win to keep up hopes of making the Premiership’s top six.
For that last four tie McInnes will be without the suspended trio Shay Logan, Graeme Shinnie and Kenny McLean, with on-loan midfielder McLean excelling of late since completing a move to English Championship side Norwich City.
He was deployed as part of a front three alongside Stevie May and Greg Stewart, with the latter having the first clear shot of the game 19 minutes in, lifting over the top after beating Hendrie.
The Dons worked the ball well into wide areas but the final ball was lacking, with one teasing cross by Andrew Considine, who had nutmegged Richard Tait, going unrewarded.
Motherwell were restricted to chances from set-pieces in an uninspiring first period as Ryan Bowman and Curtis Main made nuisances of themselves up front.
Bowman gave the Dons a few flutters before the interval as he peeled away to the back post, meeting Tait’s floated cross and diverting the ball goalward from the angle.
Goalkeeper Joe Lewis parried but no Well player was on hand to capitalise.
Tom Aldred and Main both went close for the home side at the start of the second period, with Main bullying Arnason off the ball before firing at goal.
Lewis blocked the effort and caught the rebound before a Motherwell player could pounce.
Main came to the fore in the second 45, not just in his ability to physically best the Dons’ centre backs but also with his link-up play, as he dropped deep to combine with his midfield but was also able to remain a threat in behind.
After losing Louis Moult in January, it appears Motherwell have unearthed another striking gem from England.
But their promise was not converted into goals as the Dons nicked ahead with 25 minutes to go, Arnason finding space in the box to meet McLean’s corner kick and power a header in.
McLean got his name on the scoresheet three minutes later after a one-two with Stewart before arrowing the ball into the bottom corner.
The goals flattened Motherwell and they were ragged from there on in, as McLean and Christie found increasingly more space and what threatened to be a nervy evening for the Dons ended with a cruise to the final whistle.
Motherwell (4-4-2) – Carson 6, Tait 6, Aldred 6, Kipre 5, Hendrie 5, Cadden 6, McHugh 6 (Newell 78), Campbell 6 (Bigirimana 46), Frear 5 (MacLean 63), Bowman 6, Main 6. Subs not used – Griffiths, Grimshaw, Maguire, Scott.
Aberdeen (4-3-3) – Lewis 6, Logan 6, Arnason 7 (Ball 88), McKenna 6, Considine 6, O’Connor 6, Shinnie 6, Christie 6 (Wright 90), Stewart 7 (Rooney 90), McLean 7, May 6. Subs not used – Woodman, Reynolds, Mackay-Steven, Cosgrove.
Man of the match – Kenny McLean
Attendance – 4,127
Referee – Don Robertson 6.