Teenage defender Andrew Considine scored his first two senior goals to give Aberdeen a deserved Bank of Scotland Premier League victory at Love Street.

The 19-year-old finished clinically after set-pieces at either end of a first half the visitors totally dominated.

Saints rallied but their comeback hopes were finally extinguished when Jamie Langfield saved Richard Brittain's late penalty.

The victory moves Aberdeen above Hearts and four points behind second-placed Rangers in the race for a Champions League spot after their rivals drew at Ibrox.

Saints brought back strike pair Stewart Kean and John Sutton with Kean making his first start for almost two months after a thigh injury.

Buddies boss Gus MacPherson also recalled Kevin McGowne while Dutch sweeper Karim Touzani made a rare start for the Dons as Jimmy Calderwood matched his opponents' 3-5-2 formation.

But Saints were no match for their rivals in the first half and Considine opened the scoring in the eighth minute.

Steve Lovell held up a long throw by Scott Severin and the youngster swept home from six yards as the Buddies struggled to get a foot in.

The Dons dictated play for the vast majority of the opening period as MacPherson's men were unable to keep hold of the ball.

The home side's only threat came from two dangerous left-wing crosses from Simon Lappin that the Dons managed to clear under little pressure.

Langfield did not have a save to make before the break but Saints keeper Chris Smith was a busy man.

Severin pounced on a loose ball and lashed a long-range strike just wide before Darren Mackie skipped past Kirk Broadfoot down the right but ran the ball out of play as Lovell hovered in the middle.

Lovell had an excellent chance for the second after a slick through ball by Severin but Smith rushed off his line to block.

Mackie created a chance for himself moments later but Smith got down well to hold his 20-yard drive.

Considine was given acres of space at a 36th-minute corner and his 15-yard volley sneaked inside the post.

A minute later Lovell played Mackie through as the Dons ran at the home defence but Smith again blocked the one-on-one.

MacPherson rang the changes at half-time when he brought on Stephen McGinn and John Potter for Andy Millen and Garry Brady.

And his side put more pressure on the Dons in the opening three minutes of the half than the entire first period.

McGowne saw his hooked effort deflected just wide after a Mark Corcoran free-kick had been blocked, and Potter shot inches past after Langfield had failed to catch the subsequent corner.

The Buddies remained on top and Corcoran stabbed a shot towards goal after good skill in the box, but Langfield saved comfortably.

Broadfoot missed a glorious chance when Lappin's free-kick fell for him eight yards out but he could not keep his volley down.

David van Zanten blocked well from Richard Foster after a rare breakaway by the visitors.

The Dons soon launched another counter attack and Lovell volleyed over from close range after Severin's header was blocked.

McGinn volleyed just over from 20 yards but the Buddies seemed to have lost their attacking edge going into the final quarter.

And they passed up a lifeline seven minutes from time when Langfield brilliantly saved Richard Brittain's penalty.

Broadfoot had gone down under Considine's challenge but the teenager's perfect day was preserved when his keeper dived to his right to palm away the spot-kick.

Teams

Rangers McGregor, Hutton, Ehiogu, Weir, Murray,Sionko (Burke 72), Ferguson, Hemdani, Adam, Boyd (Sebo 67),Novo.

Subs Not Used: Klos, Svensson, Rae, Lennon, Lowing.

Booked: Adam.

Hearts Banks, Karipidis, Zaliukas (Tall 68), Berra, Fyssas,Mikoliunas (Wallace 59), Aguiar, McCann, Driver, Bednar,Velicka (Elliot 81).

Subs Not Used: Kurskis, Brellier, Jankauskas, John Armstrong.

Booked: Karipidis.

Att: 50,321

Ref: Charles Richmond (Scotland).