Sandaza beat Jamie Langfield to put Dundee United ahead at Tannadice
Dundee United strengthened their grip on third position after coming out on top against Aberdeen at Tannadice.
Craig Levein's men made a storming start and Franciso Sandaza beat Zander Diamond to net on eight minutes.
Warren Feeney doubled United's advantage six minutes later with a close-range effort to put the home side in control.
However, Aberdeen rallied in the second half and Darren Mackie netted before having a late strike disallowed.
United looked dangerous from the outset and Feeney was not too far away with a glancing header across the face of goal after being set up by a cross from the right from Willo Flood.
Sandaza then had the net bulging only for the effort to be disallowed after Feeney was deemed to have fouled goalkeeper Jamie Langfield in the build-up to the strike.
But, with eight minutes on the clock, Sandaza had the ball in the back of the net again and this time there were no complaints from the referee.
The move began with a long ball from Sean Dillon before Morgaro Gomis played through Sandaza, who outmuscled Diamond to slot home.
United doubled their advantage six minutes later. This time Paul Dixon's cross zipped along the bye-line and was missed by Sandaza, who failed with a wild swing before the ball fell to Feeney, who rolled it into the net from close range.
The game should have been all but beyond Aberdeen with 20 minutes gone when Sandaza exchanged a one-two with Flood before seeing his shot blocked by Langfield. The ball fell kindly to the feet of Feeney, who somehow managed to hook over with the gaping net at his mercy.
The Dons had a chance to haul themselves back into the match when De Visscher collected a Sone Aluko ball only to see his shot swerve wide of target.
A foul on De Visscher just outside the box provided another opportunity to threaten, but Lukasz Zaluska did well to touch Lee Miller's well-struck free-kick on to the post before the United defence cleared the danger.
Aberdeen made their first change at the break, with Derek Young withdrawn for the introduction of Mulgrew.
The Dons were still searching for the goal that would give them hope of a point and there was concern for the home side when Lee Wilkie's attempts at clearing an Aluko cross saw him head dangerously across the face of his own goal.
The defender was involved again at the other end, with a quick free-kick met by Wilkie nodded on to Darren Dods for a strike that was smothered by Langfield.
Mackie came close for Aberdeen with a powerful header that flashed wide of the upright.
But he was on target with 66 minutes gone when a deep cross from Aluko was nodded back across goal by Miller into the path of his striker partner, who sent his own firm header into the back of the net from close range.
Aberdeen's increasing confidence could have been shattered by another United goal when Scott Robertson slipped a lovely ball through to Sandaza only for the striker to stab wide of the post.
But the visitors kept pressing until the end and a cross-come-shot from Charlie Mulgrew was deflected wide by Wilkie as United fought hard to retain their advantage.
Aberdeen then thought they had finally claimed the equaliser when Mackie turned a Miller header into the back of the net with just three minutes to go - but the offside flag was already raised.
Dundee United manager Craig Levein: "Aberdeen were fresher than us today. We are disappointed to lose a goal at home today.
"Aberdeen controlled the second half. If we'd been livelier or composed in possession we'd have wrapped it up.
"We missed the best two chances of the match."
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood: "If the linesman's right fair comment, if he's not it's a disgraceful mistake.
"A couple of decisions at the end of last season cost us Europe.
"It would have been a deserved equaliser for our performance. We dominated the first 10 minutes or something until they scored against a team on top form.
"The goals we gave away - the mistakes were so bad.
"The hardest thing in this game's to score goals and we just gift teams goals."
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?