Scottish Premiership: Adam Rooney seals Aberdeen win at Partick Thistle

Aberdeen moved to within four points of leaders Celtic with a 1-0 victory over Partick Thistle thanks to a controversial penalty from Adam Rooney.

Partick felt aggrieved that there had been no offside flag as David Goodwillie ducked under Cammy Smith's hopeful punt into the box, a startled Paul Gallacher in the home goal being forced to paw behind.  

From the resultant corner-kick, Abdul Osman was penalised for handball and Rooney fired home his 14th of the season from the penalty spot and a limp Thistle side could not force a save out of Scott Brown in the Dons goal all afternoon. 

Aberdeen, with Jonny Hayes making hay down the left, saw an early Rooney effort chalked off.

Niall McGinn and Andrew Considine also tested Gallacher while James Craigen - 10 yards out and unmarked - failed to hit the target in a rare Thistle threat.

The home side found a modicum of impetus after the break but Aberdeen goalkeeper Brown continued to enjoy an untroubled time as the half chances all came at the other end, Goodwillie and Reynolds both creating openings.

Rooney had his head in his hands as Gallacher sprang across his goal to palm away a point-blank header.

Osman screwed a headed attempt off target at the near post but Thistle's best chance for an equaliser fell to Stuart Bannigan, who made a terrible mess of a free header six yards out to sum up a deeply frustrating afternoon.