Aberdeen ended their club record 14-game Scottish Premiership winless streak by edging Dundee and reclaiming third place.

In a frenetic, high-tempo affair producing a glut of chances, goals from Kevin Nisbet and Topi Keskinen proved decisive.

Nisbet converted after Kristers Tobers' back-post volley was saved by the legs of Jon McCracken.

Dundee had spurned chances through Simon Murray, Josh Mulligan and, most glaringly, Jordan McGhee, before Keskinen produced a wonderful second.

The Finn thundered a dipping howitzer beyond McCracken from 25 yards, sparking a sea of red and white euphoria in the stand behind the Dundee goal.

Within two minutes, though, Tony Docherty's men struck back; Mulligan's mazy run and clipped ball from the right diverted smartly home by Seb Palmer-Houlden.

The final half hour was chaotic. Palmer-Houlden and Finlay Robertson went close for the hosts, as Aberdeen scrambled the ball away from their goalmouth.

At the other end, Tobers bulleted a header which was brilliantly beaten clear by McCracken.

Dundee continued to threaten on the break, but lacked the clinical touch to make more of their pace, directness and haul of 23 shots.

They slip to 11th place, two behind Ross County, and six clear of basement club St Johnstone.

Fans have seen this Dundee movie before. It's not that they didn't play well in spells, they just couldn't convert the chances they created.

This was indeed eerily similar to the last time they hosted the Dons back at the end of September, also a 2-1 defeat. They had an early flurry of chances but were foiled by Ross Doohan in the away goal. They then found themselves two goals down and seemingly out of it.

There's plenty of spirit in this Dundee side though, as witnessed by the performances against Rangers and Celtic recently. Those displays have been too few and far between, however, in a season in which they have struggled to find any real consistency. Hence their position in the bottom six.

Their upcoming games against Ross County, Motherwell and St Johnstone may well determine whether they're able to mount a challenge yet for the top half of the table.

How Aberdeen must wish they could play Dundee every week. Three victories over them this season alone – and only two defeats in their past 31 league encounters.

After taking just four of his past available 42 points, manager Jimmy Thelin really needed all three here to kickstart the club's faltering Premiership campaign. Job done in that sense.

Recent signings Mats Knoester, Aexander Jensen and Tobers have added a much-needed solidity to the Dons defence. At the other end of the park, Jeppe Okkels looks dangerous off the wing and Nisbet combined well with Pape Gueye up top.

If Keskinen can keep producing quality such as his long-range strike, he'll take some shifting from the starting line-up.

This feels like a very big win for Aberdeen. They're back up into third place. Can they stay there?

Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "I'm hugely disappointed. We need to learn lessons and learn them quickly. There are seven games to the split and that's a game we should be taking something from.

"The first goal, there was a tug on [Antonio] Portales' jersey and the fourth official said to us there was a tug on the jersey. I don't know what VAR have done with that. We were negligent there, we allowed someone free at the back post. But there was a pull and I don't know why that wasn't picked up."

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "I can see the faces of the players, the happy faces of the fans who supported us in struggling times and good times.

"We put a smile on their faces with how the team competed and helped each other on the pitch. We had some difficult situations but the players defended together and sacrificed themselves."