Dundee substitute Javier Artero hit an injury-time winner to sink 10-man Aberdeen, who remain stranded at the foot of the Premier League.

The home side were left reeling with the dismissal of captain Derek Whyte after his second booking with 13 minutes remaining.

Aberdeen would have settled for a share of the points but the Spanish substitute struck to put his side into sixth place above Dundee United and St Johnstone.

The games are now running out for Ebbe Skovdahl's men as they look to steer clear of the play-offs at the end of the season.

Aberdeen are now seven points adrift of Kilmarnock while Dundee moved 12 points clear and are surely safe from the end-of-season play-offs.

The Dons suffered a double blow before the game, losing Paul Bernard and Thomas Solberg through injury and Rachid Belabed and David Lilley came into the side while Hicham Zerouali continued on the bench.

But the Aberdeen faithful were left praying for Zerouali's introduction half-way through the first half as both teams struggled to create anything in front of goal.

Dundee, on a high after their draw at Celtic at the weekend, looked dangerous on the break in the opening exchanges but never really threatened the home goal.

In fact, it took nine minutes for Dundee to get the first shot on target when Francisco Luna spun in the box and fired on the turn but Jamie McAllister made the block in front of keeper Jim Leighton.

If ever a game needed a goal this was it and the most exciting thing to happen in the first 24 minutes was a booking for Dundee captain Barry Smith, for a foul on Eoin Jess.

Moments later and Russell Anderson made a desperate block to stop Lee Wilkie's goalbound effort troubling Leighton.

Luna then had the best chance of the first half in the 27th minute when Willie Falconer and David Lilley went up for a header and the Spaniard turned past Anderson but tried to be too clever and gave Leighton the chance to save.

It was 31 minutes before Aberdeen mustered their first effort on target when Belabed tried an optimistic effort from 20 yards but Robert Douglas had little trouble in saving low.

Wilkie then rose highest in the area in the 37th minute to meet Stephen Boyack's cross but his effort did not have the power or direction to trouble Leighton.

Aberdeen created their best chance so far in the 40th minute in a simple move as Belabed was in acres of space to meet Andy Dow's corner but he headed powerfully over.

Dow then fired wide from the edge of the box after Belabed and Andreas Mayer had linked up to give the midfielder time for a shot.

Mayer then tried a shot from just outside the box that screwed yards wide which summed up the way the game had been for 57 minutes.

Whyte and Luna tangled in the 57th minute to wake the poor Pittodrie crowd, at least, and both went into the referee Kenny Clark's book.

Luna was sent sprawling again as Anderson came through the back of him and he was also shown the yellow card for his troubles.

Moments later Luna hobbled off to be replaced by compatriot Artero, who also impressed at Celtic, and were also hoping for spark from, but no one was expecting him to have such an impact.

But Norwegian striker Arild Stavrum had the chance to put his side ahead in the 65th minute when Mayer crossed from the right and his glancing header came back off the upright and into the relieved Douglas' hands.

The home fans then rose to their feet for the first time when Moroccan sensation Zerouali came on for Jess and they were hoping he could produce the magic to lift the gloom at Pittodrie.

But Aberdeen's hopes of victory suffered a huge blow in the 77th minute when their skipper Whyte was given his marching orders for a late tackle on James Grady and the referee had no hesitation in showing him his second yellow.

The Dons were holding on and thought they were safe until the third minute of injury time when Artero produced a wonderful strike that left Leighton - and Aberdeen - rooted to the spot.

Teams

Aberdeen: Leighton, Lilley, Whyte, Anderson, McAllister, Guntveit, Mayer (D. Young 77), Belabed, Dow, Jess (Zerouali 69), Stavrum (Perry 79).

Subs Not Used: Preece, Winters.

Sent Off: Whyte (78).

Booked: Whyte, Anderson, Perry.

Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Tweed, Wilkie, Maddison, Boyack (Annand 85), Robertson, Billio, Grady, Falconer, Luna (Artero 62).

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Bayne, Ireland.

Booked: Smith, Luna.

Goals: Artero 90.

Att: 12,403

Ref: Kenny Clark (Scotland).