ABERDEEN 0

FALKIRK 1
Healy 31

The Bairns put a series of poor perfomances behind them to record a vital three points - especially with fellow strugglers Kilmarnock beating Celtic at Rugby Park - and could even have won by a greater margin.

It moves them into 11th spot in the table, ahead of Hamilton on goal difference, and still just two points behind Killie.

The man they had to thank for securing the points was recent signing Colin Healy, who hammered a shot into the to corner after 31 minutes to the delight to the small corps of travelling supporters.

Manager Eddie May made two changes from the team who lost to Rangers at the weekend, Kieran Duffy replacing Jackie McNamara in defence and Carl Finnigan getting the nod ahead of Jack Compton.

Aberdeen started the better and Healy's goal came against the run of play, but after the break the Bairns could easily have added to their lead.

Brian McLean, Mark Stewart, Ryan Flynn and Vitor Lima all went close but they had keeper Robert Olejnik to thank in the final few minutes when he saved brilliantly from Michael Paton.

ABERDEEN: Langfield, Mulgrew, Foster, Diamond, Ifil, McDonald, Paterson (Young 74), Kerr, Fyvie (Paton 54), MacLean, Mackie
NOT USED: Nelson, Grassi, Duff, Marshall, Jack.

FALKIRK: Olejnik, Barr, McLean, Duffy, Twaddle, Arfield, Flynn (O'Brien 87), Lima, Healy, Finnigan (Stewart 60), Showunmi
NOT USED: Andrews, McNamara, Pele, Bullen, Murdoch, Stewart

REFEREE: Finnie

ATTENDANCE: 7741