Pawlett strike wins it for Dons

Aberdeen kept up the pressure on Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 1-0 win over Inverness.Peter Pawlett grabbed the only goal of the game in the first half and ensured Derek McInnes' side would take full advantage of Celtic's draw with Ross County on Saturday.The home side made two changes from the side which lost 1-0 at St Johnstone last weekend.Carl Tremarco came in for the suspended Ross Draper, with Graeme Shinnie sliding into midfield, while Marley Watkins replaced James Vincent.The visiting Dons made just one change from the 1-0 win against Kilmarnock at Pittodrie.Shay Logan, injured in training, dropped out for Craig Murray. Former Inverness favourites Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn started.Aside from a couple of promising early runs from Ryan Christie, Caley were not looking threatening and they were made to pay as they conceded a goal following a defensive error.Tremarco and Josh Meekings both went for the same ball, missed it, and allowed McGinn to pull back for Pawlett to finish in the top corner.Inverness were only really dealing in half-chances, as Meekings headed wide from Greg Tansey's corner and Mark Reynolds cleared in front of Billy McKay, with the 26-year-old ready to pounce on Scott Brown's spillage.Further opportunities came, Ash Taylor getting away with a trip on Shinnie in the penalty area, before McKay curled an effort towards the back post that narrowly missed the upright and the onrushing Watkins.Christie found Watkins in behind in the 42nd minute and the Aberdeen goalkeeper parried his effort. David Raven met the follow-up but could only steer his shot into the ground, which Brown acrobatically parried clear.The Dons were indebted to Brown before the break with a superb one-handed stop to keep out Shinnie's rising effort. The rebound fell to Christie, who could only turn the ball wide of the target.Caley Thistle were controlling possession of the ball but not creating enough opportunities with it. McKay cut a frustrated figure up top, desperate to bring others into play but unable to find a man in blue with his flick-ons.Players on both sides had huge air-swipes when primed for a shot, Aaron Doran for the hosts and Hayes for Aberdeen, but neither goalkeeper was being pressed into action. McGinn sent a free-kick over the crossbar after the hour in the closest of opportunities.At the opposite end, as the game entered its final quarter, Tansey tested Brown with a free-kick destined for the top corner before the goalkeeper got a big hand on it to turn it over. From the same supplier, Doran could not divert his header on target from the resulting corner.Aberdeen had a strong penalty claim waved away by referee Calum Murray with 15 minutes to go. McGinn crossed from the right and Gary Warren appeared to handle as he tangled with Adam Rooney. The claim roused McInnes from the bench, incensed at the failure to award a spot-kick.A McKay effort off the crossbar shortly followed and Tremarco whistled an effort wide, Inverness looking the most likely to get a goal.John Hughes introduced Ibra Sekajja late on in a bid to inject more pace into his side but the Dons held firm to head into the new year in good form.