Aberdeen celebrated the news that manager Derek McInnes had rejected Rangers by edging past Dundee 1-0 at Dens Park.
The non-move to Ibrox that shocked Scottish football saw the Dons arrive for this clash in buoyant mood.
Dundee’s job was to make the night not all about McInnes but they just failed to spoil the party, losing to a scrappy goal from Scott McKenna on 48 minutes.
That meant there would be no hat-trick of wins for Neil McCann’s men but this was still a decent display from the home side and they should stay upbeat even in defeat.
There was the strange sight of an empty South Enclosure as the game kicked off, with home fans who would normally sit there moved to the Main Stand instead.
The problem was with the water supply, with the Dark Blues saying the decision has been made for the “safety and well-being of supporters.”
The hosts were unchanged as they went looking for their third win on the trot after a home victory over Rangers and a success up north against Ross County. They made tactical changes, though, with Cammy Kerr playing in a three-man central defence.
The visitors had on-loan Celtic man Ryan Christie back from suspension and fellow midfielder Frank Ross also made the starting line-up. It was a first return to Dens as an opposition player for former fans’ favourite Greg Stewart, now wearing red instead of dark blue.
McInnes, as you would expect, got a rousing welcome from the away fans as he walked out to the technical area.
Dundee were on the backfoot on three minutes when Graeme Shinnie sent a 30-yard strike just wide.
After Sofien Moussa picked up an early booking for fouling Ross, El Bakhtaoui shot into the arms of Aberdeen goalie Joe Lewis.
On 11 minutes, there was a decent chance for Dons defender Andrew Considine after a corner fell at his feet but he could only prod the ball into the arms of Dundee keeper Elliott Parish.
Just four minutes later, there was a golden opportunity at the other end but Lewis did well to save with his legs after Roarie Deacon burst towards goal after good work by Moussa.
Considine fired over the bar for the Dons, Kenny McLean did the same and El Bakhtaoui followed suit at the other end.
There was a great move by Aberdeen on 28 minutes that, had it been finished off, would have been a candidate for goal of the season. Christie was found in the middle of the park, bobbed and weaved his way into the box then fired inches over the bar from just outside the six-yard box.
It was then Glen Kamara’s turn to switch on the style going on a mazy run inside the Aberdeen half before he was fouled by McLean.
On 34 minutes, the Dens men came within a whisker of the lead when Deacon blasted a brilliant shot in from the edge of the area, forcing Lewis into a fingertip save.
A couple of minutes later, El Bakhtaoui’s shot was too high, then Kerr shot over when found by Kamara.
Christie was the one causing Dundee problems and he was managing to drive far too deeply into the home box far too often. However, an even first half came to an end without Christie or any other Don bothering the back of the net.
Aberdeen, who brought on Kari Arnason on for Ross for the second period, were 1-0 up just three minutes after the restart.
It wasn’t the bonniest of goals, with McKenna sticking out his boot to redirect a harmless-looking ball from McLean into the net. Goalie Parish did his best to stop it but the toe-poke squeezed past his hand.
Dundee came close to an equaliser when Moussa’s downward header off Jon Aurtenetxe’s corner was superbly saved by Lewis then Jack Hendry headed the resultant setpiece past the post.
The Dark Blues brought on Scott Allan for Paul McGowan after the hour then the hosts had an unsuccessful shout for a penalty when Aurtenetxe went down under a challenge from Stewart.
Dundee, who brought on A-Jay Leitch-Smith for Deacon and Kerr Waddell for Josh Meekings, survived strikes from Shinnie and Shay Logan before they had a chance of their own through with five minutes left, with Aurtenetxe clipping the ball over Lewis but the danger being cleared.
Kerr had a shot blocked by Considine as Dundee pushed and pushed in the closing minutes but they just couldn’t find an equaliser.
In stoppage-time, Allan’s corner was booted off the line and that left the stage clear for McInnes to punch the air at the final whistle.
Attendance: 6,451.
Dundee: Parish, Kerr, Kamara, Moussa, O’Hara, Aurtenetxe, McGowan (Allan 62), El Bakhtaoui, Deacon (Leitch-Smith 79), Hendry, Meekings (Waddell 83). Subs not used: Ferrie, Holt, O’Dea, Curran.
Aberdeen: Lewis, Logan, Considine, O’Connor, McKenna, Shinnie, Ross (Arnason 46), McLean, Christie, Stewart, Rooney. Subs not used: Rogers, Harvie, Reynolds, Ball, Wright, Maynard.
Referee: Nick Walsh.
