Aberdeen continued their build up to next week’s Europa Cup clash against Latvia’s Daugava Riga with a hard-fought 4-1 win against battling Brechin City.
Ray McKinnon’s League One side gave an excellent account of themselves but ultimately the superior fitness and firepower of the League Cup holders ensured Derek McInnes left Glebe Park happy with the way his squad is shaping up ahead of their return to European action after an absence of five years.
A low key opening to the game produced little in the way of attacking football but a swift break down the right by Cammy Smith should have led to the opening goal but Adam Rooney fired the cutback high and wide.
Veteran Barry Robson had a couple of efforts deflected wide before the Dons broke the deadlock when Ryan Jack curled a delicious 25-yard shot beyond the stranded Graeme Smith in the home goal.
The Premiership side piled on the pressure in the second period but had to wait until the 73rd minute for Niall McGinn to double their lead, lofting a delicate chip over Smith.
Robert Thomson gave the home fans something to cheer when he rattled in a 20-yard drive but substitutes Lawrence Shankland and Dec McManus put the game to bed with close range finishes after 79 and 89 minutes.