Peter Ambrose moved increasingly impressive Aberdeen three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership as Dundee United’s resistance was broken late on at Pittodrie.
The Dons looked likely to drop points at home for the first time this season after Ester Sokler’s header was superbly saved by Jack Walton.
But substitute Ambrose was on hand to lash the ball past the United goalkeeper with just six minutes left to play.
Jimmy Thelin’s unbeaten side move in front of defending champions Celtic and are nine clear of Wednesday’s opponents Rangers, while Jim Goodwin’s United remain a point below Rangers.
Celtic visit Motherwell and Rangers host St Mirren on Sunday afternoon.
Aberdeen enjoyed most of the possession and territory but Dundee United defended well as a unit and kept their hosts largely at bay in the first half.
Ante Palaversa’s drive bouncing wide was as close as the Dons got.
Shayden Morris was introduced in place of Topi Keskinen at half-time and his run and cross was beaten away by Walton with no takers for the hosts.
Jamie McGrath’s low shot was awkwardly turned wide by Walton, who was unsighted as the ball travelled through the throng.
Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes tested Walton at his near post from the right but the narrow angle of the shot demonstrated how much United were restricting space.
Morris’ pace was evident again before his deflected cross set up Sokler but the right hand of Walton clawed the ball wide.
Ambrose took over from Duk and soon had his big moment. Gavin Molloy’s deep cross from the left was headed back into the six-yard box by Nicky Devlin and the Nigerian finished emphatically.
The hosts thought they would get a chance to double that lead when Ambrose was tripped in the box by Vicko Sevelj but VAR ruled the Aberdeen forward had been offside when he received the ball.
United mustered one late chance, with Will Ferry unable to keep his effort down following Glenn Middleton’s low cross.
Subs make the difference for Thelin
Premiership defeat is becoming a distant memory for Aberdeen supporters, last experiencing such ignominy 18 games ago in mid-March.
And it is the manner in which the Dons are finishing games that impresses the most. Late goals have secured victory against Queen’s Park, Ross County, Hearts and now Dundee United while dogged defending squeezed out a point at Celtic Park last weekend.
Thelin’s alterations in the second half forced the issue with United having less and less of a foothold in the match following Morris’ introduction and Ambrose offering a different threat to Duk.
Aberdeen’s next two fixtures could be season defining with Rangers’ midweek league visit followed by Saturday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Celtic at Hampden.
Defensive second half limits United
Any appraisal of how United fare in the Premiership this term can be caveated or endorsed with the suffix ‘in their first season back in the top flight’.
The Tangerines do not look like a side new to the division – quite the opposite – and stuttering starts to the campaign by Hibernian and Hearts, who meet on Sunday, had allowed Goodwin’s side to steal a march.
But they became more and more defensive following Aberdeen’s changes and that limited their chances of getting back level in the closing stages.
They also did not make the most of long throw-ins, free-kicks and corners, Kevin Holt heading out from a wide left delivery during the second period.
It’s Motherwell at home next for Dundee United, on Wednesday evening.
What they said
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: “[The substitutes] were so good. I’m happy for the players and the team. We have an amazing team spirit. It is a strong togetherness.
“We always try to find solutions. First half, we were open. We did not play exactly how we wanted. We talked at half-time about patience and finding more crosses. I hope everyone enjoyed this evening. Tomorrow we start working for the next game again.”
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: “We came close to a valuable point. A clean sheet would have been fantastic. I can’t fault the players.
“In the first 45, I did not think there was a great deal in it. We denied them space in behind. Ahead of the second half, they made a few changes and caused us problems in the wide areas. We defended resiliently but I can’t have too many arguments about the end result.”
