Aberdeen ended a nightmare run with a much-needed victory against bottom-team Dunfermline at Pittodrie.

This was the home side's first League win since 16 August.

But it was not a pretty display, and boss Alex Miller will be far from delighted at his team's overall performance.

They started on a high when Eoin Jess put them in front after 90 seconds.

He stroked the ball home after Pars 'keeper Lee Butler had parried a Mike Newell effort.

Transfer-listed Craig Hignett then hit the crossbar before the game more or less died, as have so many of Aberdeen's games this season.

However, with nine minutes left, Dunfermline equalised, setting up a frantic finish to what had been a mediocre game.

Dunfermline's throw-in from the right was misjudged by Aberdeen defender Gary Smith and Jamie Squires pounced to thump the ball past Jim Leighton in the Aberdeen goal.

But before the visiting fans had finished celebrating, the Dons were back in front when Jess latched onto a through ball and swept a great 20-yard effort into the bottom corner.

Hignett looked as though he was trying to impress any future club who might have been watching and almost scored with a volley on 70 minutes when he latched onto a poor clearance by Butler.

For Dunfermline, it is now 11 matches since their last victory, and defeat by Aberdeen leaves the East End Park side rooted firmly at the bottom of the Premier league.

Aberdeen

Leighton, Perry, Whyte, Smith, Hignett, Jess, Newell, Kiriakov, Anderson, Rowson, Winters. Subs: Dow, Stillie, Young, Good, Mackie.

Dunfermline

Butler, Shields, McCulloch, Tod, Ireland, Huxford, Smith, Petrie, Johnson, Squires, Ferguson. Subs: Westwater, Millar, Britton, Fraser, Templeman.