Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

Aberdeen move up to third in the Scottish Premiership as Sam Cosgrove's 19th goal of the season was enough to send Hamilton Academical to the bottom.

Derek McInnes' side had all the chances in a goalless first half but had to wait until the 53rd minute before Cosgrove fired in off a post.

It lifts the Dons a point above Motherwell, who host second-placed Rangers on Sunday.

Accies failed to force home goalkeeper Joe Lewis into a save.

St Johnstone's win at Hearts means they move off the bottom, with Accies behind the Edinburgh side on goal difference.

For Aberdeen, it was a return to winning ways after their six-game unbeaten run was brought to an abrupt end by last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Hibernian.

No Van Basten moment for Accies

The fact Accies were in search of their first win in 11 attempts might have had the majority of onlookers expecting a straightforward home win.

However, the South Lanarkshire men had previous at Pittodrie, namely on their last visit in February, when Brian Rice's side returned south with all three points after a 2-0 victory.

George Oakley scored a wonder goal that night, the one that was compared to the famous volley by Marco van Basten and, when the Englishman began this game buffeting and bundling Dons defender Ash Taylor, you could sense the home fans wincing a little.

When Aberdeen settled, there were good chances for James Wilson, the fit-again Funso Ojo, Niall McGinn, Ryan Hedges and Shay Logan, yet Accies' on-loan Reading goalkeeper Luke Southwood admirably repelled anything on target.

With his team-mates unable to open the scoring, the trusty Cosgrove took it upon himself to spark the Pittodrie crowd into life by cushioning in his 19th of the season shortly after the break in front of the Richard Donald Stand.

McGinn - making his 300th Aberdeen appearance - was the man who patiently waited on the left-hand side to deliver the nicely weighted cross to the back post for Cosgrove to do what he does best.

A narrow win, but three points is three points and Aberdeen get back up into third in the Premiership for the time being.

Man of the match - Sam Cosgrove

Sam Cosgrove continues to be the man who competently carries the goal-scoring burden for the Dons, even though manager McInnes is eager for others to chip in on a more regular basis.

The striker only had one half-chance in the opening 45 minutes, but his bustling presence and headed flick-ons all add value.

He watched his team-mates either be profligate or denied expertly by Southwood, who was a close second in the man of the match stakes.

'They are sweating blood in that shirt' - reaction

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: "It was a thoroughly deserved win on the balance of chances. First half, I thought we were very good in controlling the game and Joe Lewis has had nothing to do for the whole 90 minutes.

"There's been a bug going through this club that's wiped a few players out and I saw two or three feeling the effects of it, but a win's a win. I was delighted to get Funso Ojo on the pitch and you see what he means to the team - he controlled the middle of the pitch - and we lost it when he went off at half-time."

Hamilton Academical head coach Brian Rice: "I'm feeling disappointed to come up here and battle the way we did and to lose a sloppy goal - it's fine margins in this league.

"We had plenty of possession but never had the cutting edge, but we've lost the game 1-0 and not been turned over. I can't ask any more of the boys - they are sweating blood in that shirt and I'm so disappointed for them."