Niall McGinn's 17th goal of the season gave Aberdeen their first win of 2013 as Scottish Premier League bottom club Dundee succumbed to another defeat.

McGinn beat Rab Douglas from long range to put the Dons ahead shortly after Jamie Langfield had denied Dundee's Brian Easton.

Jim McAlister struck the frame of the Aberdeen goal in the closing stages of the first half.

Dundee continued to press in the second period but could not make it count.

Craig Brown's side move up to fifth - level on points with St Johnstone - while Dundee remain 15 points adrift of St Mirren ahead of five more SPL fixtures on Saturday.

Aberdeen claimed unsuccessfully for handball early on when Scott Vernon's attempt was blocked by Gary Irvine in the Dundee penalty area.

The visitors began to take the game to the Dons and Langfield did well to block Easton's dipping volley.

Having weathered some more Dundee pressure, the hosts broke and got the ball to McGinn in the 18th minute.

The Northern Ireland international burst forward from his own half, cut inside past two defenders and beat Rab Douglas from around 30 yards.

Dundee midfielder Jim McAlister

Dundee's McAlister twice came close to levelling

Dundee tried to respond but Gary Harkins' effort was well over.

However, McAlister did come close to an equaliser when his shot on the run rebounded off the crossbar shortly before the break.

The midfielder came close again early in the second half, his low strike pushed round the post by Langfield.

McGinn was unable to match his first-half accuracy when he stepped up to take a 25-yard free-kick, the prolific forward blazing over.

Dundee's Ryan Conroy was off balance as he tried a shot but the visitors were still finding ways to trouble the Dons defence.

At the other end, McGinn found no takers when he played a teasing ball across the face of goal.

The visitors enjoyed territorial advantage in the final 20 minutes without really troubling Langfield.

And Aberdeen saw out their first win since beating Dundee in December with 10 men, Isaac Osbourne coming off injured after all three substitutions had been made.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (4)

Aberdeen

  • 01 Langfield
  • 03 Robertson (Naysmith - 62' )
  • 04 Anderson
  • 23 Shaughnessy (Magennis - 75' )
  • 05 Rae
  • 10 McGinn
  • 11 Hayes
  • 15 Pawlett (Milsom - 65' )
  • 16 Osbourne
  • 18 Hughes
  • 09 Vernon

Substitutes

  • 20 Twardzik
  • 02 Jack
  • 17 Naysmith
  • 08 Milsom
  • 14 Fallon
  • 21 Magennis
  • 38 Smith

Dundee

  • 01 Douglas
  • 02 Irvine
  • 18 Gallagher Booked
  • 25 Toshney
  • 26 Easton
  • 06 Davidson
  • 07 Riley
  • 11 Conroy (Nish - 80' )
  • 29 Harkins
  • 10 Baird
  • 20 McAlister

Substitutes

  • 36 Baird
  • 03 Lockwood
  • 17 Benedictus
  • 08 McBride
  • 22 Morgan
  • 15 Milne
  • 24 Nish
Ref: Colvin
Att: 7,841

Match Stats

Shots

7 9

On target

3 4

Corners

4 4

Fouls

10 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:06 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +2:02

Johnny Hayes decides to take the corner short.

90:00 +0:34

Gavin Rae gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nicky Riley. Shot comes in from Gary Harkins from the free kick.

86:14

Gary Irvine challenges Robert Milsom unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie Langfield restarts play with the free kick.

83:33

Unfair challenge on Scott Vernon by Gary Irvine results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

82:32

Robert Milsom has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide left of the goal.

80:22

Brian Easton concedes a free kick for a foul on Gavin Rae. Jamie Langfield restarts play with the free kick.

79:06 Substitution

Substitution Colin Nish comes on in place of Ryan Conroy.

77:55

Niall McGinn is caught offside. Lewis Toshney takes the free kick.

77:13

The assistant referee flags for offside against Scott Vernon. Declan Gallagher takes the free kick.

76:45

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Robert Milsom by Gary Irvine. Gary Naysmith takes the direct free kick.

75:25

The ball is crossed by Gary Irvine, clearance by Russell Anderson.

74:39

The assistant referee signals for offside against John Baird. Jamie Langfield takes the indirect free kick.

74:11 Substitution

Substitution Josh Magennis comes on in place of Joe Shaughnessy.

73:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Lewis Toshney on Robert Milsom. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

72:14

Joe Shaughnessy challenges Nicky Riley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gary Harkins restarts play with the free kick.

70:21

The ball is sent over by Niall McGinn.

68:45

Corner from the left by-line taken by Stephen Hughes, Declan Gallagher manages to make a clearance.

68:34

Robert Milsom sends in a cross, Gary Irvine gets a block in.

66:49

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Vernon on Nicky Riley. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Ryan Conroy, clearance by Scott Vernon.

64:54

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Rab Douglas.

64:32 Substitution

Substitution Robert Milsom joins the action as a substitute, replacing Peter Pawlett.

63:37

Stephen Hughes delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, clearance made by Lewis Toshney.

63:37 Booking

Booking Declan Gallagher goes into the referee's book.

63:33

Declan Gallagher concedes a free kick for a foul on Niall McGinn.

61:44

Shot from outside the box by Ryan Conroy misses to the left of the target.

61:28

Scott Vernon is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Brian Easton takes the indirect free kick.

61:01 Substitution

Substitution Clark Robertson goes off and Gary Naysmith comes on.

60:25

Effort on goal by John Baird from 18 yards. Comfortable save by Jamie Langfield.

59:26

The ball is crossed by Niall McGinn. Handball by Scott Vernon. Rab Douglas restarts play with the free kick.

58:03

Centre by Nicky Riley, Jamie Langfield makes a save.

56:11

Gavin Rae gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nicky Riley. Free kick crossed right-footed by Gary Harkins from left channel, clearance made by Gavin Rae.

54:23

Handball decision goes against Iain Davidson. Shot comes in from Niall McGinn from the free kick.

53:17

John Baird produces a cross, clearance by Clark Robertson.

52:29

Effort by Ryan Conroy from a long way out goes over the crossbar.

51:56

James McAlister concedes a free kick for a foul on Isaac Osbourne. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.

51:29

A cross is delivered by Iain Davidson, clearance by Russell Anderson.

51:09

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by James McAlister, clearance made by Russell Anderson.

50:46

Shot by John Baird. Jamie Langfield makes a save.

50:12

The assistant referee flags for offside against Niall McGinn. Free kick taken by Rab Douglas.

49:17

Unfair challenge on James McAlister by Gavin Rae results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by James McAlister from left wing, Jamie Langfield makes a save.

48:21

Nicky Riley crosses the ball, save by Jamie Langfield.

47:55

Foul by Clark Robertson on Nicky Riley, free kick awarded. Lewis Toshney restarts play with the free kick.

46:24

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Conroy, save by Jamie Langfield.

45:53

The official flags John Baird offside. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +0:38 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

44:38

Niall McGinn produces a cross, Rab Douglas makes a save.

43:14

John Baird has an effort at goal from 12 yards.

42:19

Peter Pawlett takes a short corner.

42:09

The ball is delivered by Clark Robertson, Gary Irvine gets a block in.

41:18

Stephen Hughes takes a shot. Blocked by James McAlister.

37:32

Johnny Hayes crosses the ball, Rab Douglas makes a save. Isaac Osbourne has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

36:55

The ball is swung over by Nicky Riley, Russell Anderson gets a block in.

35:44

The ball is swung over by Niall McGinn, clearance by Iain Davidson.

35:08

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Scott Vernon by Lewis Toshney. Russell Anderson takes the indirect free kick.

34:00

Niall McGinn delivers the ball, Brian Easton makes a clearance.

32:50

The ball is swung over by Johnny Hayes, James McAlister manages to make a clearance.

32:18

The assistant referee flags for offside against Gary Harkins. Isaac Osbourne takes the indirect free kick.

31:40

The offside flag is raised against John Baird. Russell Anderson takes the free kick.

30:57

Unfair challenge on Brian Easton by Niall McGinn results in a free kick. Rab Douglas takes the free kick.

28:56

The ball is swung over by Nicky Riley, Jamie Langfield makes a comfortable save.

27:55

Centre by Isaac Osbourne.

27:17

Nicky Riley sends in a cross, Jamie Langfield makes a save.

26:08

The offside flag is raised against Niall McGinn. Indirect free kick taken by Rab Douglas.

25:01

Outswinging corner taken by Ryan Conroy, Jamie Langfield makes a save.

24:31

Gavin Rae challenges Iain Davidson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lewis Toshney takes the free kick.

23:55

Iain Davidson concedes a free kick for a foul on Peter Pawlett. Clark Robertson takes the direct free kick.

22:31

Niall McGinn crosses the ball.

21:16

The ball is crossed by Nicky Riley, save by Jamie Langfield.

20:57

The ball is delivered by Johnny Hayes, clearance by Lewis Toshney.

19:08

Shot by Gary Harkins from outside the box goes high over the target.

17:44 Goal scored

Goal - Niall McGinn - Aberdeen 1 - 0 Dundee Niall McGinn grabs a brilliant goal from long range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 1-0 Dundee.

17:03

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Conroy from the right by-line, Scott Vernon makes a clearance.

16:51

The ball is crossed by John Baird, Joe Shaughnessy gets a block in.

14:49

Gary Irvine gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Peter Pawlett. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Stephen Hughes, clearance made by Iain Davidson.

14:14

Corner taken by Johnny Hayes, Brian Easton makes a clearance.

14:04

A cross is delivered by Johnny Hayes, blocked by Declan Gallagher.

13:23

Russell Anderson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John Baird. Ryan Conroy crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, save made by Jamie Langfield.

12:27

Brian Easton takes a shot. Brilliant save by Jamie Langfield.

11:42

Isaac Osbourne concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Harkins. Free kick crossed by Gary Harkins, clearance made by Johnny Hayes.

10:44

The offside flag is raised against Scott Vernon. Indirect free kick taken by Declan Gallagher.

8:32

The referee blows for offside against John Baird. Indirect free kick taken by Russell Anderson.

8:02

Nicky Riley is ruled offside. Jamie Langfield takes the indirect free kick.

7:25

Centre by Isaac Osbourne, clearance made by Gary Irvine.

6:51

A cross is delivered by John Baird, Gary Harkins takes a shot. Comfortable save by Jamie Langfield.

4:33

Johnny Hayes produces a drilled left-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

3:49

The ball is delivered by Clark Robertson, Gary Irvine manages to make a clearance.

2:35

The ball is sent over by Johnny Hayes, Gary Irvine manages to make a clearance. Scott Vernon takes a shot. Save by Rab Douglas.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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