VETERAN midfielder Barry Robson returned to inspire the Dons to a vital 1-0 Scottish Premiership victory over Inverness Caley Thistle at Pittodrie this evening.

The 36-year-old set up defender Ashton Taylor’s 47th minute winner as Aberdeen took a huge step towards securing their highest league finish for 21 years.

The win moved the Dons 11 points clear in second place.

Aberdeen haven’t finished that high since 1994, when Willie Miller was manager.

With seven games to go, it would take a unlikely collapse for them not to do that and also secure a return to Europe for the second season in a row.

The Dons went into the match on the back of two draws, 1-1 away to Dundee and 0-0 at home to Partick Thistle last weekend.

Manager Derek McInnes made four changes to his starting line-up in an effort to sort that.

Robson was in for the injured Ryan Jack.

Keeper Scott Brown came back in for Jamie Langfield and Peter Pawlett replaced Kenny McLean, who was on the bench.

Niall McGinn was also restored in place of young Lawrence Shankland, who made his first start in that last match but was back among the substitutes.

Robson clearly relished the opportunity to be getting a game during what was a keenly contested first half in which the Dons had the best of the chances.

He was always looking to get on the ball and provided the accurate long range pass that set up the best scoring opportunity of the opening 45 minutes.

Adam Rooney managed to get to the ball before Ryan Esson and clipped it over the Caley keeper but his effort was cleared away from the line by Josh Meekings.

Robson also got back to make a well timed tackle to prevent Pittodrie-bound Caley defender Graeme Shinnie getting a shot at goal from just inside the Aberdeen area.

A long distance shot wide and a booking soon afterwards , for a foul that prevented Inverness breaking clear, capped an energetic shift from him although the sides went in at the interval still level.

Robson sorted that just two minutes after the restart with a perfectly flighted corner from the right that Taylor nodded home from close range.

The Dons were unlucky not to add to their lead when Shay Logan battered a shot against the frame of the Inverness goal.

Adam Rooney also had a header chalked off because of a marginal offside decision, so it was a well merited three points for the Dons.

Mention must also be made of the excellent backing the Dons received from their fans in the 11,319 crowd.

They had left the pitch to a chorus of boos after the Partick game.

But the fans, particularly the few hundred in the new singing section in the Richard Donald Stand who even used drums to pump up the volume, were back at their best on this occasion.

They were encouraging and showed patience until their team finally got the upper hand in the second period.