Aberdeen boss wants to push Celtic all the way in title race

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is confident they can keep the Premiership run-in exciting after they rejuvenated their title bid with a 1-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice.

Simon Church headed the only goal from Shay Logan's cross in the 29th minute as Aberdeen took advantage of Celtic's draw with Dundee to move four points behind the leaders.

McInnes was sent to the stand after complaining about the second of two disallowed goals, but nothing could spoil his night.

Aberdeen's title credentials were seriously damaged on Saturday when they failed to exploit Celtic's Friday night draw with Hamilton by conceding a late penalty equaliser at home to St Johnstone.

But the race is firmly on.

McInnes said: "It was important to win. We felt we needlessly shipped two points on Saturday. We were very comfortable with two minutes to go and gifted a penalty.

"When you see the players working so hard and are so committed, when they don't get the reward for that there was a lot of anger and frustration and it was important we showed that.

"The performance was good but the result was everything.

"We are just delighted with our work here and we move on with 10 games to go.

"We have a 10-game season and we are confident that we can win games that can keep everybody interested.

"We have been given every encouragement by the last couple of results.

"Hopefully I'm still being asked the same questions over the next few weeks, but we have to keep winning."

Church had a goal ruled out for offside moments before his opener but there was more controversy just afterwards.

Bobby Madden harshly booked Graeme Shinnie for diving and gave United a free-kick as Paul Dixon sliced into his own net, but the Dons left-back appeared to have been caught by Gavin Gunning.

McInnes said: "I was aggrieved when he pulled it back for the penalty and then obviously exasperated when we didn't even get a penalty and my player got booked for simulation, which to me clearly wasn't the case. "It was a big call and thankfully we don't have to dwell on it too much.

"I apologised for my part in it."

The Dons needed two excellent late saves from Scott Brown to hold on as he stopped shots from Coll Donaldson and Gunning following high balls into the box.

McInnes said: "There always seems to be one chance that gets you nervous. Thankfully he made the saves when called upon."

Bottom club United were looking for a third consecutive win over a top-four side but they failed to make the most of their chance to cut their deficit on Kilmarnock to five points.

Manager Mixu Paatelainen said: "We should have and could have played better.

"We started sluggishly. Aberdeen were off the mark really sharp and put us under pressure.

"But then second half I felt we looked dangerous on a couple of occasions.

"I don't think anybody anticipated us winning every match. I don't think anything has really changed.

"It's eight points and everything to play for."