Aberdeen struck three times in a thrilling first half to take the points away from Dundee United and hamper the Tangerines' hopes of staying in the top half of the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Goals from Leigh Hinds, Phil McGuire and Paul Sheerin gave Steve Paterson's side a well-deserved win and got them back on track after a run of six games without a win through March.

United, who contributed to their own downfall with a hapless defensive display, will now have to wait to finally clinch their place in the top six.

Manager Ian McCall remained loyal to the players who beat Motherwell last weekend, thus resisting the temptation to hand Trinidadian striker Jason Scotland, who has scored twice in as many games, a starting berth ahead of Andy McLaren.

Aberdeen made two changes to the side which lost 3-1 at Kilmarnock. Defender Michael Hart pulled up injured last weekend, so was replaced by Kevin Rutkiewicz.

Former Celtic striker Bryan Prunty scored his first goal against the Ayrshire side but it was still not enough to keep him in the team as Australian forward David Zdrilic returned to the starting line-up.

The Dons dominated from the outset and were only denied an early opening goal by Scotland goalkeeper Paul Gallacher, who made two fine stops within seconds of each other on the quarter-hour mark.

First he had to show strong hands to smother Sheerin's fine volley from the edge of the area then, even more impressively, dived low to his left to push Steve Tosh's blistering drive round the post for a corner.

Aberdeen's pressure paid off in the 21st minute when they deservedly took the lead. Hinds raced on to McGuire's long ball and, having dragged David McCracken out of position, slipped a low shot across Gallacher's body into the far corner.

United were in disarray and went further behind three minutes later after a piece of woeful defending. They failed to pick up McGuire at a corner and when Scott Morrison's swirling cross reached him on the six-yard line he had the simple task of nodding it home.

Hinds, who has been criticised - not least by his own manager - for his lack of goals, was brimming with confidence as he proved, in the 36th minute, by shooting just wide from Zdrilic's flick on.

Aberdeen confirmed their superiority by adding a third just before the break. Once again United's defending was poor as Sheerin ran into the box to collect Zdrilic's slightly mis-hit cut-back and roll it into the net.

The Dons started the second half in the same vein as the first and, unfortunately for United boss McCall, so did his defenders. Once again Zdrilic and Hinds combined to set up a chance for the latter, but he could not find the target.

McCall was clearly unhappy with the fare served up by his players and made three changes in the first 20 minutes of the second half. He replaced McLaren, Jim McIntyre and Mark Kerr with Scotland, Billy Dodds and Trinidadian forward Collin Samuel.

Aberdeen continued to push forward in search of more goals and Hinds went close once again, in the 71st minute, with a rasping shot from the edge of the area that smacked off the crossbar with the goalkeeper well beaten.

Zdrilic, too, hit the woodwork three minutes later, with a well-struck free-kick that had Gallacher scrambling. He had the opportunity to snatch the fourth at the death, but missed a simple opportunity from a few yards out.

Their fine afternoon was soured, however, as McGuire was carried off injured right on the final whistle following a clash with Scotland.

Teams

Aberdeen Preece, Rutkiewicz (Buckley 74), McGuire (Prunty 90), Diamond, Morrison, Tosh (Souter 89), Heikkinen, Sheerin, Hinds, Zdrilic, Muirhead.

Subs Not Used: Esson, Stewart.

Booked: McGuire, Sheerin.

Goals: Hinds 21, McGuire 24, Sheerin 43.

Dundee Utd Gallacher, Wilson, McCracken, Innes, Archibald, Kerr (Dodds 60), McInnes, Miller, Robson, McIntyre (Samuel 66), McLaren (Scotland 50).

Subs Not Used: Jarvie, Easton.

Booked: Innes.

Att: 8,449

Ref: I Fyfe (Scotland).