FT: Dundee 0 Aberdeen 1

Aberdeen made it 10 wins in a row against toothless Dundee as Gary Mackay-Steven's second-half penalty sealed a 1-0 victory at Dens Park.

Both sides struggled in the final third during a lively encounter as a string of chances went begging.

But the visitors extended their run of success against the Dark Blues to double figures as Mackay-Steven slotted home from the spot with 15 minutes left.

There were chances aplenty during the opening 45 but composure was a rare commodity in both ranks.

Kharl Madianga created the first for Dundee on 11 minutes, flicking over Graeme Shinnie but firing over from distance.

Aberdeen's turn came moments later as Niall McGinn worked a short corner with Mackay-Steven but Andy Considine could only nod wide from the Northern Irishman's cross.

The opener should have gone to the hosts when Jesse Curran darted to byline. Three defenders missed his cut-back as the ball fell to the unmarked Sofien Moussa 10 yards out but the frontman blazed over.

Aberdeen's Lewis Ferguson was being watched by Scotland Under-21 boss Scot Gemmill but he was lucky his afternoon did not end 23 minutes in when he scythed down Elton Ngwatala with a shocking challenge.

Dens boss Neil McCann demanded red but referee Bobby Madden showed mercy with a yellow.

The longer the half went on, the more Aberdeen took control but neither Sam Cosgrove nor Stevie May could capitalise on chances that dropped at their feet.

Cosgrove wasted another chance early in the second period as May's cross was scooped into the air by home defender Josh Meekings, nudging his header beyond the back post. Moussa was up to his old tricks too, smashing into the stand again after being sent through by substitute Adil Nabi.

The half-time introduction of former West Brom youngster Nabi gave the Dark Blues a new dimension. His ball into Moussa was laid off first time to Jean Mendy but again the finish was poor.

McInnes also made a change as he threw on Bruce Anderson and the teenager almost made another remarkable impact on 63 minutes.

Anderson grabbed the Dons' last-gasp equaliser against Rangers last weekend but this time he could only smash against the crossbar after Meekings failed to clear.

But Aberdeen did get the breakthrough with a quarter of an hour left. McGinn's corner found Dom Ball at the back post but it his header appeared to be stopped by the hand of Genseric Kusunga and Madden immediately pointed to the spot.

Former Dundee United wideman Mackay-Steven had been jeered all afternoon by the home support but had the last laugh as he tucked the spot-kick into the corner.

Nabi almost fired Dundee level moments later but Joe Lewis pulled off a crucial stop.

• superscoreboard