Dundee United finished 2024 with a flourish as they secured a dramatic late 1-0 victory against Aberdeen at Tannadice.
The game looked like it was heading for a goalless draw before Kevin Holt soared highest to head past Dons goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov deep in stoppage time.
The result means United have only lost once in nine games while Aberdeen have now failed to win any of their last eight, with the Terrors now just three points behind the third-from-top Dons.
United made three changes to the team that beat St Johnstone on Boxing Day with David Babunski, Kristijan Trapanovski and Luca Stephenson coming in for the suspended Declan Gallagher, Richard Odada and Kai Fotheringham.
Aberdeen made four alterations to the starting line-up that lost 4-0 to Kilmarnock on Thursday with Leighton Clarkson, Ante Palaversa, Gavin Molloy and Ester Sokler replacing Angus MacDonald, Graeme Shinnie, Duk and Peter Ambrose.
The hosts were the first to threaten in just the third minute when the ball was worked to Glenn Middleton inside the Dons box but the winger sent a shot sailing over Mitov’s goal.
Aberdeen had an even better chance when Sokler hit a fierce shot, with United keeper Jack Walton diving to his left to make a vital block and Topi Keskinen unable to take advantage of the rebound.
There was a huge moment of controversy just before the half-hour mark.
A Middleton cross was headed onto his own bar by a Dons defender and then a Trapanovski shot was blocked by Nicky Devlin, with referee John Beaton pointing to the spot for handball. After a VAR check, Beaton was called over to the pitchside monitor and decided to overturn his original ruling.
United bounced back quickly from that disappointment, coming close to breaking the deadlock when Middleton burst in from the right, hitting a shot that was saved by Mitov. Trapanovski looked certain to head home the rebound but the keeper rushed across his goal to make a superb stop.
There was little to excite the fans at the start of the second half although Holt tried his luck in the 56th minute with a wind-assisted free-kick from inside his own half that flew over the bar.
Aberdeen then had two quickfire chances for sub Kevin Nisbet and Devlin but both shots were blocked.
At the other end, Trapanovski had a shot deflected just wide and then Sam Dalby sent a header towards goal but Mitov produced another vital stop to deny the striker, with the ball eventually being cleared following an almighty goalmouth scramble.
However, United would not be denied and in the fourth minute of stoppage time Will Ferry sent a long throw-in from the left, with Holt heading home to the absolute delight of the 10,000 home fans inside Tannadice.
