Substitute Ben Krauhaus netted the only goal of a low-key match at Pittodrie as Falkirk overcame lacklustre Aberdeen to move into the top half of the William Hill Premiership table.

The on-loan Brentford midfielder netted just eight minutes after entering the fray, and his side-footed effort from the centre of the penalty area would prove decisive.

Separated by a point before the match, both teams had designs on climbing into the top six, with virus-hit Aberdeen having lost to Dundee United at the weekend to drop to ninth, while Falkirk's 3-0 win over Kilmarnock had them sat in seventh.

The Dons made two changes to the side that fell 3-2 at Tannadice, Dan Happe returning in place of Jack Milne, while Lewis Smith took over from the injured Connor Ronan.

John McGlynn's side was unchanged, and it was the visitors who had the first opening as Jacob Murrell got in behind Happe, but couldn't control the ball and shot well wide.

Brad Spencer's uncharacteristic slack free-kick handed Smith Aberdeen's first effort, but his shot was blocked.

Scott Bain was the first goalkeeper called into action as the home side burst forward on the counter, Kevin Nisbet's effort blocked before Chris Cadden headed tamely into the arms of the keeper.

Bain held comfortably from Ayoub Mouloua and Marius Muller held well from Finley Barbrook as the sides traded blows, and the German goalkeeper would also deny Ethan Ross before the interval, with Cadden seeing an effort at the other end deflected over.

The sides made a slew of changes in the opening periods of the second half as they sought tactical supremacy, but it was after the hour mark before Aberdeen replacement Hicham Mahou worked an opening, Bain again untroubled.

The opener finally came in the 73rd minute, and it was another substitute who would grab it.

Milne blocked an Owen Eames effort, and as the ball spun up in the air, Muller opted to punch clear. The ball broke to Krauhaus who saw his effort blocked by Brad Lyons. It fell to Ryan Strain, who slid across for Krauhaus to stroke into the bottom-left corner from 10 yards.

Aberdeen reacted well and Lyons should have found the net after Bain palmed away a low cross, his effort blocked by Strain.

Aberdeen now head into a Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden, and the chorus of boos around Pittodrie at full-time will certainly not be the send-off to Glasgow the Dons hoped for.