Aberdeen cut the gap on Premiership leaders Celtic to eight points with a hard-earned win over Partick Thistle.
Adam Rooney slotted home from two yards out from Ryan Christie’s cut-back after the hour to make the breakthrough.
Rooney had an earlier effort disallowed for a high foot in the build-up, while Greg Stewart and Christie went close.
Adam Barton wasted Thistle’s best chance with a first-half header, while Tomas Cerny’s superb save from Stewart’s curling shot kept it at 1-0.
While the Dons maintained a three-point advantage in second place over Rangers, defeat returned Thistle to the bottom of the Premiership on goal difference from Ross County, who they host on Saturday in their final game before the winter break.
Aberdeen made a bright start, looking to continue the sort of form that blew away Hibs 4-1 in their last home game.
Stewart, on loan from Birmingham City, looked particularly keen to shine, relishing the free role that saw him operate effectively on the left flank and through the middle.
He produced a couple of crosses early in the game that caused all sort of problems but Rooney just failed to convert them thanks to some great defending by the visitors.
Stewart decided to take more direct action after 18 minutes, cutting inside from the left flank before sending in a right-foot shot that Cerny held at the second attempt.
Thistle were forced into some desperate defending at that point but grew in confidence the longer the half progressed.
Shay Logan had a half chance and Rooney had a goal disallowed from Stewart’s corner, but the visitors survived reasonably comfortably until the break.
With nine first team players out injured and only five men on the bench, Thistle continued to work hard to limit Aberdeen’s opportunities and give hope to their hardy 196 travelling fans.
The Jags relied on sporadic counter-attacks, Conor Sammon forcing Joe Lewis into a save before setting up Andy McCarthy for a shot that flew wide.
Christie, on loan from Celtic, thought he had broken the deadlock after good play from Kenny McLean and Logan sent him clear through the middle.
Christie lobbed Cerny as the goalkeeper raced out to meet him, but Ryan Edwards raced back to hack the ball clear off the line and deny the midfielder a certain goal.
Edwards also denied Gary Mackay-Steven with an equally important back-post clearance from a driven Stewart cross.
But Thistle’s resistance was broken after 62 minutes when Christie manoeuvred his way to the right byline before cutting the ball back for Rooney to tuck home his sixth goal of the season.
It was no more than Aberdeen deserved after stepping things up after the interval and they nearly had a second when Stewart was denied by a brilliant save from Cerny.
The Partick keeper was relieved to see a Christie free-kick land on the roof of the net late on but the Jags now face a vital final game on Saturday against fellow strugglers Ross County.
Post-match reaction:
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes: “An early goal could have changed the dynamic of the game but I thought Partick were set up really well; they had a game plan to nullify us.
“At half-time we told the players not to get frustrated. Conditions were horrible, the wind was playing havoc all night and the pitch was a bit slippy.
“But the goal was fantastic. Ryan was bright as a button and showed real quality and penetration to lay it on a plate for Adam.
“That’s as good as any three points we have had this season. The players have got their just reward for a lot of effort. It wasn’t slick like the Hibs game, but it is the same three points and I am really pleased with the clean sheet.”
Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald: “The game plan was to stifle Aberdeen and we largely did that but it was a major disappointment losing the goal we conceded – from a throw-in, essentially – after putting a lot of effort in.
“After the first 15-20 minutes, a bit of belief came into the boys and we created some chances.
“It’s a huge game against Ross County on Saturday now and hopefully we will get a couple of players back for that one to give some of these lads who have been going every week a boost.
“We are at home and that is a massive bonus. Tonight’s performance was important as we weren’t too open, which we have been at times this season, so we can take the positives from the way we defended for the most part.”
bbc.com
