AT the end of a week that has seen the skies filled with all manner of rockets and bangers, rather than explode back into life Aberdeen showed flickers before rediscovering some semblance of their full splendour .

Derek McInnes, the Aberdeen manager, could not care less about the style of the victory, however, and will be hoping that this vital three points ahead of the international break can reignite their season after going five matches without a win.

An Adam Rooney header seven minutes into the second half lifted the tension for the home side and the points were never in doubt after they doubled their lead in the 74th minute courtesy of an excellent strike from Jonny Hayes, who was singled out for praise by his manager.

‘Jonny has been very single-minded and focused on his performance level and he was excellent last week [at Celtic]. I told him: “If you can do that against Celtic you can do it against any side in the league.” He took that on board and was a real threat again today.

‘I was delighted with all of the lads, though. I have to applaud the players for how they handled what could have been a difficult situation.

‘Hopefully the supporters will feel far more relaxed about our situation after that performance. ‘

If the Aberdeen fans can indeed rest easy with their side having shown flashes of returning to the level that saw them top of the table after eight matches, then the same cannot be said for their Tayside rivals. There were signs of improvements in terms of organisation, but they continue to lack any cohesion as an attacking force and never looked in serious dangerous of drawing level after falling behind.

Aberdeen looked to exert control over proceedings from the beginning and showed no lack of confidence in the early stages. Despite enjoying more or less total territorial control, the home side struggled to find any openings in a well organised and hard-working Dundee United defensive unit.

Hayes and Graeme Shinnie were linking up well on the left-hand side and it was no surprise that the first sighting of goal emerged from the pair exchanging passes down the touchline. Shinnie’s overhit cross in the 9th minute reached Shay Logan at the far post and he sent a dipping cross onto the forehead of Hayes but his intended knockdown for Adam Rooney was just too firm.

The breakthrough nearly came McInnes’ side in the 28th minute when Kenny McLean’s cross was volleyed towards the bottom corner by Shinnie, forcing Szromnik into his first save of the match.

As Aberdeen’s frustration grew, the visitors began to grow in confidence and passed up a wonderful opportunity to take the lead in the 40th minute when Ryan Fraser miscued poorly with his shot from the edge of the Aberdeen box after he had dispossessed Ryan Jack on the halfway line.

It was a chance that left Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen particularly rueful as he felt his side would have had a good chance of taking something from the game if they had gone into the break ahead.

‘We were nowhere near good enough,’ said Paatelainen. ‘Yet, saying that, we should have scored two goals. If you don’t take these chances then you are up against it. Ryan’s chance before half time would have given us something to hold on to.

‘After we went behind, though, we had too many players hiding behind their marker and not showing for the ball. We want to pass the ball but to do that you have to make yourselves available.’

It always had the feeling of an afternoon in which the opening goal would be imperative and the home supporters did not have long to wait after the break to celebrate the simplest of finishes from Rooney.

Hayes was a thorn in United’s backline throughout the match and he found himself in acres of space on the left flank. His low cross in the 52nd minute was not dealt by Szromnik or his defenders and when the ball spun up kindly for Rooney he prodded the ball over the line before spinning off in delight.

It was a goal that Aberdeen desperately needed and they reasserted their dominance from the early stages of the match. McLean flashed a volley over the crossbar from 30 yards after further good work from Hayes.

Credit to Dundee United, they did not simply fold over and accept their fate and they showed a fighting spirit that may stand them in good stead in future weeks.

Sean Dillon and Ryan Fraser both had efforts from outside the box that had Ward worried but neither was able to find the target and their inability to capitalise on their fleeting spells of pressure proved costly as Peter Pawlett picked up the ball in acres of space in the 74th minute and released Hayes who drove into the area and drilled an unstoppable effort into the bottom corner to seal the three points.