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Former Dundee United striker David Goodwillie floored their neighbours by grabbing Aberdeen's winner in a five-goal thriller at Dens Park.

Goodwillie supplied the cross as Andrew Considine headed the Dons ahead after five minutes, but Gary Harkins levelled superbly for Dundee within seconds.

Dundee's James McPake headed into his own net only for a second-half David Clarkson penalty to restore parity.

But Goodwillie's superb header handed Dundee a fourth straight defeat.

The Dons had arrived unbeaten in their last four games and having not lost in their last five meetings with the hosts.

Dark Blues manager Paul Hartley had complained before kick-off that his squad was "down to the bare bones" because of injuries.

With Luka Tankulic failing to recover from a knock and Martin Boyle dropping to the bench, recent signing Clarkson led the attack, while Thomas Konrad returned to defence on his return from suspension and Kevin McBride replaced Simon Ferry in midfield.

Considine started for the Dons in place of Jonny Hayes, who failed to recover from an ankle problem, and the big defender soon sprung to prominence on his return to the starting line-up.

Andrew Considine's headed goal did not spoil his hairdo

He headed the Dons into the lead with only five minutes gone when he raced on to a Goodwillie cross from the right to net from six yards.

However, the visitors were rocked when Harkins lashed a 30-yard strike past goalkeeper Jamie Langfield to level just a minute later.

Dundee then had two decent efforts, with Paul McGowan lobbing over from distance and Clarkson heading over from close in.

Aberdeen were ahead again just before the half-hour mark, Niall McGinn whipping in a cross from the right and McPake under severe pressure from Shay Logan putting the ball past his own goalkeeper.

Dundee opened the Dons defence with tidy work from Harkins to feed Clarkson, but the striker's effort cracked the base of Langfield's post.

The Dark Blues levelled 10 minutes into the second half when Ash Taylor was adjudged to have pushed Jim McAlister and Clarkson blasted the spot kick high past Langfield into the top left-hand corner.

Aberdeen restored their advantage in the 63rd minute with a powerful, 12-yard header from Goodwillie and Logan clipped in a neat cross from the right.

Dundee roared back as McAlister hit a first-time volley from 20 yards that Langfield saved well at his left post.

With 10 minutes left, home substitute Martin Boyle cracked an effort over the bar after Harkins laid the ball into his path then Langfield tipped over the bar after Taylor almost turned Boyle's cross into his own net.

Harkins swept a low drive wide of Langfield's left post as Dundee sought the equaliser.

Despite a late goalmouth stramash in the visitors' box, Dundee could not find the equaliser and the Dons took all three points in a terrific game from which the home side could have taken something given the rub of the green.

Andrew Considine returned to the Aberdeen side and opened the scoring

Gary Harkins (left) levelled for Dundee a minute after the Dons opened the scoring

James McPake headed into his own net under pressure from the Dons' Shay Logan

David Goodwillie headed Aberdeen's winning goal at Dens Park