Peter Pawlett’s strike midway through the second half proved the decider as Aberdeen beat Kilmar-nock 1-0 and moved to second place in the Scottish Premiership table, four points behind leaders Celtic, yesterday.
Derek McInnes’s side were always on top against a workmanlike Killie who have now gone eight games without a win in all competitions.
Kilmarnock threw bodies forward in the dying stages in a bid to nick an equaliser, but there was no such luck as Aberdeen held on to seal all three points.
Elsewhere, a controversial second-half penalty from Brian Graham earned St Johnstone a 1-0 victory over 10-man Inverness.
The on-loan striker converted from the spot in the 62nd minute after the referee ruled Graham had been brought down by Inverness goalkeeper Dean Brill.
Scottish Premiership
Aberdeen 1 - Kilmarnock 0
Partick Thistle 1 - Dundee FC 1
Ross County 0 - Hamilton 1
St Johnstone 1 - Inverness 0
St Mirren 0 - Motherwell 1
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Celtic | 16 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 33 | 10 | 38 |
| Aberdeen | 17 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 26 | 17 | 34 |
| Hamilton | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 30 | 18 | 33 |
| Inverness | 17 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 18 | 32 |
| Dundee Utd | 16 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 28 | 19 | 31 |
| St Johnstone | 17 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 17 | 26 |
| Dundee FC | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
| Kilmarnock | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 22 | 21 |
| Partick | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 23 | 20 | 20 |
| Motherwell | 17 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 12 | 27 | 14 |
| Ross County | 17 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 17 | 37 | 9 |
| St Mirren | 17 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 31 | 8 |
Playing today
Dundee United vs Celtic - 13.15
Scottish Championship
Dumbarton 0 - Falkirk 3
Hearts 2 - Alloa Athletic 0
Q’ of South 1 - Cowdenbeath 2
Raith Rovers 1 - Hibernian 3
Rangers 2 - Livingston 0
League One
Ayr United 2 - Stirling Albion 2
Dunfermline 0 - Stranraer 1
Forfar Athletic 1 - Airdrieonians 1
Morton 0 - Peterhead 1
S’housemuir 0 - Brechin City 2
League Two
Albion Rovers 0 - Montrose 0
Arbroath 2 - Berwick 0
Clyde 3 - East Fife 1
Elgin City p - East Stirling p
Queen’s Park 0 - Annan 0