Aberdeen kept their hopes of European football next season alive with the narrowest of Bank of Scotland Premier League victories over Motherwell at Fir Park.

Darren Mackie grabbed the only goal of the game when he powered a header home in the first half.

Aberdeen headed into the game knowing that they needed a win to keep the pressure on Hibernian in the race for third spot and the UEFA Cup place which goes with it.

Motherwell had only just booked their place in the top half of the table before the league split last week and had little more than pride to play for.

But it was the home side who looked the most impressive for much of the first half and they came close when Scott Leitch threaded an alluring ball through to Shaun Fagan but he was clearly unnerved by the presence of Russell Anderson, who was back in the top team after recovering from a broken nose and injured cheekbone.

Fagan's shot proved to be weak and was easily blocked by goalkeeper Ryan Esson.

The home side had made a half-hearted claim for a penalty when Scott Severin bundled into Richie Foran but that was waved away. They then looked for the more traditional route to goal when Foran set up Jim Hamilton but he blasted well over.

Esson was called into action again to produce an excellent finger-tip save from a 25-yard Brian Kerr drive which looked certain to find the back of the net.

Aberdeen's first real chance came when Michael Hart drilled the ball into the side netting from an angle which proved to be too demanding and the travelling Dons fans looked far from impressed.

But what happened next was worth waiting for.

Noel Whelan hooked a cross into the box, meeting Mackie six yards out and he left Motherwell goalkeeper Barry-John Corr with no chance when he bulleted home the header after 34 minutes.

Aberdeen tried to pile on the pressure after the break in the hope of extending their narrow lead.

Severin picked out Anderson in the box from a free-kick but the Dons skipper poked the ball just over the crossbar under pressure from the Motherwell goalkeeper.

Then it was the turn of Chris Clark to try his luck with a 25-yard shot which fell an inch to the wrong side of the post.

Motherwell made another penalty claim when Hamilton and Zander Diamond clattered into each other in the box but the referee gave the foul in Aberdeen's favour and it was, indeed, the Dons who suffered the consequences when Diamond had to be replaced by Richie Byrne.

Aberdeen came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage with just 20 minutes to go.

Byrne whipped a cross to the feet of Clark and he looked as though all he had to do was choose his spot but Stephen Craigan stuck a leg out to block the effort in front of goal.

Undeterred, Clark was threatening again when he met a nod-down from Scott Muirhead only to fire the shot just wide of the upright from inside the area.

In the end, Mackie's first-half header proved to be enough to secure the win for Aberdeen.

Teams

Motherwell Corr, Kinniburgh, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell, Kerr, Leitch (Keogh 78), Corrigan, Fagan, Hamilton, Foran.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Higgins, Connolly, Maguire, Coakley.

Booked: Hammell, Partridge.

Aberdeen Esson, Hart, Diamond (Byrne 61), Anderson, McNaughton, Muirhead, Heikkinen, Severin, Clark, Whelan (Blaha 73), Mackie (Stewart 78).

Subs Not Used: Preece, Winter, Dempsey, Considine.

Booked: Stewart, Muirhead.

Goals: Mackie 34.

Att: 5,063

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).