Ante Palaversa, Topi Keskinen, Vicente Besuijen and Kevin Nisbet all struck in the second half as Aberdeen beat Dundee 4-1 at Pittodrie to move top of the Scottish Premiership.
Simon Murray missed a penalty late in the first half for the visitors, but partially made up for it with a header to make it 2-1 midway through the second half.
Besuijen, however, scored minutes later to restore Aberdeen’s two-goal advantage before Nisbet added four late on to ensure Jimmy Thelin’s 100 per cent record at home remained intact.
The victory lifted Aberdeen three points clear of Celtic at the summit and 12 points clear of third-placed Rangers, with both Glasgow sides on Sunday evening.
How Aberdeen thumped Dundee
Topi Keskinen of Aberdeen celebrates with Graeme Shinnie after scoring to make it 2-0 against Dundee
Aberdeen made two changes from the team beaten 6-0 by Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final. Out dropped Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Jamie McGrath, replaced by Palaversa and Leighton Clarkson.
Dundee also made two switches after their win against Kilmarnock. Jordan McGhee and Josh Mulligan made the starting line-up in place of Ethan Ingram and Antonio Portales.
The front side started promisingly. Jack MacKenzie’s effort from distance sailed high over the crossbar before Oluwaseun Adewumi headed in at the other end after being picked out by Lyall Cameron’s through ball.
Aberdeen responded and Duk’s try from a tight angle was saved by Jon McCracken, before another drilled shot from the same player was also denied.
Dundee continued to look a threat on the break and from another Cameron pass, Murray could only shoot into the keeper’s hands.
The visitors then squandered a good chance to go ahead before half-time. Gavin Molloy tried to take care of the ball for a goal kick but ended up dragging Murray in the process. The striker took his own penalty but Dimitar Mitov dived to his left to save.
Aberdeen had one last chance in the closing seconds of a frenetic first half, but again McCracken equalized with Keskinen’s curling shot.
The home team made the breakthrough seven minutes into the second half. Clarkson’s corner is only half cleared and Palaversa fires a shot at McCracken.
Duk then hit the post with a header before Aberdeen grabbed a second goal in the 57th minute. Nicky Devlin’s throw-in was flicked on by Sokler and, after Clark Robertson messed up a clearance attempt, Keskinen trained a low effort into the far corner.
Dundee held on for a lifeline when Murray atoned for an earlier missed penalty by slotting Scott Tiffoney’s cross past Mitov with 20 minutes remaining.
Hope for a comeback, but it was gone within 60 seconds. Nisbet, alone on the field, took the free-kick quickly and substitute Besuijen was quick to finish.
Nisbet claimed his side’s fourth in added time, his shot taking a deflection off Ryan Astley as it went past McCracken.
What managers say…
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin: “Every match is difficult so the most important performance is to get a result.
“I have to say that the character of the team (made it) great to get this experience with these players, how to get back into the game.
“Obviously it was a difficult first half. We were quite open in our structure and the positions were not where we wanted them to be.
“And the fans stay with us and support us, even if it’s not half perfect. In the dressing room we talk about how to adjust the little things, not panic, have better positions, find a better rhythm in the game, and so on- more stability in the way to defend the transition.
“And I think the players responded well. That says a lot about the character of the players that we didn’t change everything or stress ourselves out in that situation.”
Dundee manager Tony Docherty: “I think if we go up at half time 2-0, it will not be an unfair reflection on the game. Sometimes you come to half time and you don’t want to praise the players too much. You just want to continue what you are doing.
“But I can’t get away from disappointment and frustration because of the nature of the goals we conceded. Aberdeen didn’t need to do much to score those goals and I think that has caused us to be the story of this season.
“I have a very young group and it’s about developing and improving. But there are times when they make a lot of mistakes, individual mistakes, and it costs the team. So as a manager, I have to deal with it.”
