A sixth-minute winner from new signing Leon Mike continued Aberdeen's challenge for European football next year.

Mike, recently acquired from Manchester City, had an impressive outing in his first start as Aberdeen took a deserved three points.

The Dons continue to joust with surprise contenders Livingston for third place in the Scottish Premier League.

But after another win the quiet revolution by Ebbe Skovdahl is bearing fruit.

Dunfermline, despite a spirited second half, failed to find the cutting edge to claim a share of the spoils yet are still in a good position to stay in the top six.

Aberdeen started brimming with enthusiasm, and Mike was on hand to open the scoring.

Dunfermline's rearguard looked ill at ease, and Gary Mason lost out to Robbie Winters who delivered a low cross into the danger zone.

The Pars were slack - and goalkeeper Marco Ruitenbeek in particular. Mike looked somewhat surprised as he bundled home from close range to notch a soft goal.

Mike had two more chances within the space of five first-half minutes and was by far the biggest thorn in Dunfermline's side.

Winters, who will be leaving the Granite City in the summer, almost added a second after 25 minutes only to stab the ball against the bar following a dangerous cross by Darren Mackie.

Aberdeen, in full flow, really should have been more goals to the good.

Peter Kjaer saved well from Lee Bullen's shot just after the half-hour.

But whatever Dunfermline chief Jimmy Calderwood said at half-time obviously struck a chord with his players who came out determined that Aberdeen would not continue to dictate matters.

Just two minutes after the restart, Crawford saw his instant hit blocked by Kjaer as Aberdeen gradually began to reassert themselves.

Defender Philip McGuire rose to head goalwards from Winter's corner only for the Pars' Dutch goalkeeper to save.

Teams

Aberdeen: Kjaer, McNaughton, Anderson, McGuire, McAllister, Derek Young (Clark 54), Bisconti, Darren Young, Winters, Mike (Tiernan 79), Mackie.

Subs Not Used: Preece, Whyte, Thornley.

Booked: McAllister.

Goals: Mike 7.

Dunfermline: Ruitenbeek, Scott Thomson, Skerla, McGroarty, Mason, Nicholson, Ferguson (MacPherson 38), Bullen (Kilgannon 76), Crawford, Hampshire (Dair 45), N'Diaye.

Subs Not Used: Scott Y Thomson, Nicholls.

Att: 13,764

Ref: B Orr (Scotland).