Aberdeen go into the winter break sitting third in the Premiership following a 1-0 defeat of Dundee United at Pittodrie.
Striker Bojan Miovski grabbed the winner in the 37th minute when converting a penalty after strike partner Duk was fouled in the box.
It is the first time Aberdeen have won five league games in row at Pittodrie since April 2017 under former boss Derek McInnes.
The Dons gained revenge for the 4-0 humiliation by Dundee United at Tannadice on October 8.
Dundee United were rock bottom of the Premiership table and without a league win before they steamrollered the Dons at Tannadice last month.
The Tannadice club are still bottom of the table but this time were edged out by the Dons in a nervy, close encounter.
Aberdeen can now jet off to the United States for a training camp in Atlanta next week with the knowledge they hold pole position in the race to finish third.
Goodwin changes both wing-backs
There were two changes to the Aberdeen starting XI that lost 2-1 to Livingston on Tuesday, both in the wing-back roles.
Left wing back Jack MacKenzie dropped to the bench to be replaced by Hayden Coulson.
On the right Matty Kennedy came in for Jayden Richardson who was named as a substitute.
Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin returned to the dugout for the New Firm derby having served the final game of his ban in the loss at Livingston.
Goodwin had been hit with an eight game ban, two suspended until the end of the season, for accusing Hibs’ defender Ryan Porteous of ‘blatant cheating’.
That was reduced to five games, two suspended, on appeal.
Cagey opening with limited chances
Aberdeen were the first to threaten in the 12h minute when Leighton Clarkson found Kennedy with a lay off.
However Kennedy blasted over the bar from 18 yards.
It was poor execution from Kennedy and a let off for the visitors.
In the 16th minute a powerful 22 yard drive on the run from Glenn Middleton deflected off centre-back Anthony Stewart and went spinning wide of goal.
The resultant corner was eventually cleared.
Moments later a Kennedy free-kick from the right was cleared as far as Connor Barron.
The midfielder took a touch and ballooned a 25 yard effort well over to sum up a cagey opening to the clash.
Aberdeen had been so potent in attack at Pittodrie this season but the dual attack of Bojan Miovski and Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes were starved of significant deliveries.
Miovski repays manager’s faith
However the duo exploded into life in the 37th minute when Aberdeen broke upfield on the counter-attack.
Assistant referee Graeme Stewart had flagged for offside to Dundee United but referee Willie Collum waved play on as Miovski raced upfield on the break.
Striker Miovski powered up the right flank t before sliding a superb defence splitting cross field pass to strike partner Duk.
The former Benfica striker took a touch and bore down in on goal but keeper Mark Birighitti raced off his line to clumsily bundle over the striker.
Miovski had missed a penalty in the 2-1 loss at Livingston when the Reds were two goals down.
Aberdeen were awarded another spot kick against Livi but Duk was given the penalty duty instead of Miovski, and converted.
Dons boss Goodwin had confirmed in the build up to the New Firm derby that Miovski would remain the number one penalty taker.
The North Macedonian international repaid his manager’s faith by sending keeper Birighitti the wrong way with a clinical penalty for his 12th goal of the season.
It was nearly 2-0 in the 43rd minute when Ross Graham completely misjudged the fligt of the ball and left it.
Duk raced onto the ball and lobbed the keeper who was way off his line from 20 yards – but the effort flashed across goal and wide of the far post.
Duk should have scored.
Half-time: Aberdeen 1 Dundee Utd 0
Aberdeen threatened in the 53rd minute when Kennedy delivered an inswinging corner kick to the near post.
Ross McCrorie raced in front of his marker to meet the ball but shot from five yards into the side netting.
In the 59th minute McCrorie came close again when he met a Kennedy cross headed back across goal by Liam Scales.
McCrorie’s shot beat keeper Birighitti but Kieran Freeman was well placed to head clear before it went in the net.
Dundee United carved an opening in the 66th minute when Dylan Levitt crossed to the back post from the right to find Steven Fletcher.
However the striker volleyed wide.
Moments later Fletcher was given the space to shoot at goal following impressive build up play from Dundee United, but he headed straight at keeper Kelle Roos.
Aberdeen midfielder Ylber Ramadani fired off a drive but keeper Birighitti caught.
Dundee United threated again when Roos was forced to tip a 25 left footed volley over the bar from Ross Graham.
Aberdeen should have made it 2-0 and eradicated any late nerves when Duk played Kennedy through on goal as the Dons raced upfield on the break.
Kennedy burst into the penalty area and with only the keeper to beat blasts high over the bar from 15 yards.
Full-time: Aberdeen 1 Dundee Utd 0
ABERDEEN (3-1-4-2): Roos 6; McCrorie 8, Stewart 7, Scales 7; Ramadani 7; Kennedy 7, Barron 7, Clarkson 7 (Besuijen 88), Coulson 7 (MacKenzie 77); Miovski 7 (Watkins 77), Duk 7 (Duncan 88)
Subs not used: Lewis, Morris, Richardson, Milne, Ramirez.
DUNDEE UNITED (3-4-2-1): Birighitti 6; Smith 6, Edwards 6, Graham 6; Freeman 7, Sibbald 6 (Harkes 67), Levitt 7, Behich 6 (Anaku 67); McGrath 6 (Pawlett 84), Middleton 6; Fletcher 6.
Subs not used: Eriksson, McMann, Niskanen, Djoum, Meekison, Watt.
Referee: Willie Collum
Attendance: 17,035
Man-of-the-match: Ross McCrorie (Aberdeen)
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