Substitute Chris Maguire struck four minutes into injury-time to hand Aberdeen an amazing 4-3 victory over 10-man Inverness and keep the Dons in contention for a top-six finish in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Sone Aluko broke the deadlock early on, before Dave Bus scored an own goal and Russell Duncan's 25-yard drive gave Inverness the lead.

Barry Nicholson equalised for Aberdeen in the 45th minute and then Russell Duncan was sent-off during the half-time break having received his second yellow card.

Second-half goals from Lee Miller and Roy McBain looked to have sent the game towards a draw, only for Maguire to head in at the death to hand the Dons all three points in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Inverness may have registered the first effort on target when Don Cowie's snap shot from the edge of the penalty area drew a smart save from Derek Soutar, but it was Aberdeen that scored first.

The architect of the goal was Miller, who spun away from Duncan in the middle of the pitch before lofting a pass out to Aluko.

The on-loan Birmingham player then embarked on a menacing run, cutting inside from his left-wing berth before placing a low shot past Michael Fraser in the home goal.

Aberdeen looked to quickly build on their advantage with Richard Foster and Miller flashing ambitious shots off target.

But out of nothing Inverness scored an equaliser when Duncan's long free-kick was carelessly headed into his own net by the hapless Bus.

Inverness were inspired after restoring parity and soon had a good opportunity to move into the lead.

Marius Niculae raced in behind Bus and smashed a shot at goal which was blocked by the resolute Soutar.

A second goal for Inverness then arrived when Cowie set-up Duncan to try his luck from 25 yards out, and the central midfielder lashed a low shot past Soutar.

At the time, Inverness had only 10 active players as McBain was lying injured on the turf having been fouled by Alan Maybury, who was later cautioned for his indiscretion.

Duncan was also booked as his celebrations were deemed over-exuberant by referee Dougie McDonald.

Aberdeen had been decidedly lacklustre before falling behind, but to their credit the Dons then moved up a gear and ensured they went into the interval on level terms when Foster's superb cross was powerfully headed in by Nicholson.

The Dons were then given a massive boost ahead of the second period as Duncan was sensationally sent-off after the half-time whistle had been blown for kicking the ball away in frustration.

Numerically disadvantaged and playing against a team desperate to get into the top six, Inverness were firmly up against it.

The hosts survived a scare when an Aluko free-kick was brilliantly saved by Fraser and Miller's header on the rebound was cleared off his own goal-line by Grant Munro.

But Miller was then presented with another headed opportunity, this time from Nicholson's accurate corner and the forward made no mistake at the front post to nod an effort high into the net.

A remarkable game continued to swing one way and the other though, with Inverness manfully recovering from that set-back to make the scoreline 3-3 with just 59 minutes played.

Cowie turned a wonderful pass into the path of McBain and the 33-year-old took a touch before knocking the ball past Soutar from close range.

Inverness then had to rely on a poor Miller miss from Aluko's cut-back to ensure they did not fall behind once again.

Both teams traded chances in the closing stages of the game and finally it was Aberdeen who grabbed a stunning winner when Maguire pounced on a save from Fraser to head into an unguarded net.

It later emerged that Munro was sent off by McDonald after the final whistle

for foul and abusive language.

Teams:

Inverness CT Fraser, Tokely (Paatelainen 81), McGuire, Munro,Hastings, Proctor, Cowie, Duncan, McBain, Imrie (Hart 74),Niculae.

Subs Not Used: Malkowski, McAllister, Wyness, Kerr, Vigurs.

Sent Off: Duncan (46).

Booked: Hastings, Duncan, McGuire, McBain.

Goals: Bus 21 og, Duncan 40, McBain 57.

Aberdeen Soutar, Maybury, Considine, Bus (Maguire 46),McNamara, Foster, Nicholson, Severin, Aluko, Mackie (Duff 73),Miller.

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Touzani, Mair, Walker, Pawlett.

Booked: Maybury, Miller, Considine, Foster, Maguire.

Goals: Aluko 7, Nicholson 45, Miller 53, Maguire 90.

Att: 5,655

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).