Aberdeen 2, Dundee United 0

Adam Rooney and Jonny Hayes netted a goal apiece as Aberdeen ended a run of six games without a win, overcoming a Dundee United side who desperately need a shot in the arm to rescue their season.

The Arabs remain anchored to the foot of the table after the 2-0 defeat, while Aberdeen will be pleased to apply some pressure to league leaders Celtic ahead of their trip to Ross County tomorrow.

The determination to get a result, on what was a wet Pittodrie pitch, was evident in the opening stages as both sides started at a high tempo, but with little in the way of quality leading to a scrappy opening period.

With Niall McGinn dropped to the bench, much of the creative burden would fall to Hayes, and he had the first opportunity to open the scoring after nine minutes.

Shay Logan's cross from the left found Hayes racing into the area, only for his touch to deflect away off Ryan McGowan.

United's first effort fell to Blair Spittal after 25 minutes, the former Queen's Park winger seeing his strike from the edge of the area deflected away for a corner kick.

It had only really been half-chances for either side so far, but United keeper Michal Szromnik had to be at his best as Kenny McLean's cross from the right was flicked towards goal by Shinnie, the goalkeeper getting across to his left to turn the ball behind.

But slack play from captain Ryan Jack almost cost the Dons five minutes from the interval. His sloppy pass was all too easy for Scott Fraser to intercept, the youngster driving forward, but unable to find the finish to match his alert play in the build-up.

There was a sense of deja vu after the interval when another loose pass from Jack saw Adam Taggart set Sean Dillon free down the right flank. The United captain crossed to the back post where Fraser will have been disappointed not to have found the target with his header.

Within a minute, United were punished.

Hayes ducked and dived his way down the left before sending in a teasing low cross.

Szromnik and McGowan got mixed up as both went for the ball, which spun up in the air and Rooney reacted first to head home from close range after 52 minutes.

It was the Irishman's ninth goal of the season, and he will be hoping to continue his red-hot form as he eyes a place in Martin O'Neill's squad for Euro 2016.

But Derek McInnes would have been raging as his allowed Dillon acres of space in a dangerous position, inviting the full-back to shoot. He accepted, but his 25-yard effort squirted wide of the far post.

United introduced Simon Murray in place of Taggart after 65 minutes, and the tactical reshuffled that followed saw Fraser, now playing on the right, pop up on the edge of the box to send a left-foot volley inches beyond Dan Ward's left-hand upright.

Just as the visitors looked like they were starting to get a foothold in the game, the stuffing was knocked out of them after 73 minutes.

A quick Dons counter saw Pawlett send a slide-rule pass into the path of Hayes, who raced into the area and angled a low 10-yard strike into the far corner of the net.

It was no less than the winger deserved after a fine performance, and ensured an end to his side's dismal run.