Andy Considine’s goal gave and a late Sam Cosgrove penalty gave Aberdeen a 2-0 win at Livingston.
The defender’s volley just before the half hour mark gave the Dons an interval lead by Cosgrove’s 11th goal of the season in stoppage time ensured the Dons picked up their first away win of the season.
It was a far from pretty for the Dons but their manager will be delighted to see his side grind out a win.
Dons boss McInnes made two changes for the trip to the Tony Macaroni Arena, two of them enforced.
Funso Ojo, who has been ruled out for at least three months with a hamstring injury, and Craig Bryson, who has an ankle injury, dropped out with Dean Campbell and Jon Gallagher replacing them while Curtis Main came in for his second start of the season in place of Sam Cosgrove, who dropped to the bench.
Livingston earned plaudits if no points for their performance at Ibrox in their last outing, a 3-1 defeat to Rangers, and they created two good chances to open the scoring but did not take either with Joe Lewis saving from Scott Robinson before Chris Erskine curled over the crossbar with his chance.
They were made to pay when Aberdeen opened the scoring just before the half hour thanks to a fine side-foot volley from Andy Considine to guide Ryan Hedges’ corner past Ross Stewart in the Livi goal.
Livi went close to an equaliser 15 minutes from time when the ball broke to Jon Guthrie in the box but his shot struck the woodwork before Aberdeen cleared the danger.
The Dons secured the points in stoppage time from the penalty spot when substitute Cosgrove was fouled by Nicky Devlin. Cosgrove took the spot kick himself, sending Stewart the wrong way to make it 2-0.