IF additional points were awarded for tenacity and resilience, Aberdeen would still be squeezing Celtic at the top of the Premiership.

The refusal by Derek McInnes, their manager, to accept a game is over at any point up until the referee blows the final whistle, reverberates right through his side and that was evident as they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to confirm their status as runners-up in the league title race, the first time since 1994 they have finished in such a lofty position.

Out-thought and out-played in a first-half dominated by Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the Dons looked as though would have to wait a while before cementing that second spot, but a second-half revival, driven by a steely determination, brought them their reward, courtesy of a stunning winner from Niall McGinn, not to say a sterling performance from their goalkeeper Scott Brown, an heroic first-half figure with three high-calibre saves.

"We could easily have given ourselves too much to do," said McInnes, "had Scott not done his job as well as he did. He kept us in the game in the first half.

"Coming second is quite significant and over the years the club has suffered and has missed-out on the top six.

"So, to finish in second place when an Aberdeen has found that difficult in the past means the players should feel proud of their efforts and of their club, but there's still work to be done and twelve points to earn this season."

It was the Dons' eighth win in their last nine games against the Highlanders a clean sweep for them this season - yet the home side's plan to take the game to their opponents produced effective play and a series of impressive passing moves, particularly in the opening forty-five minutes as the Dons chased shadows in their struggled to find their rhythm and their hosts found ways through a midfield and defence that looked off-colour.

Brown put his body in the way of a Marley Watkins shot in the 12th minute before block a Nick Ross strike soon after as the host's slicker play looked likely to break the deadlock.

This was underlined on the half-hour mark as Graeme Shinnie, who'll join the Reds in the summer, raced free down the left to feed Watkins with a low ball across goal, but once more he was robbed by the brilliance of the Dons shot-stopper who somehow reached what should have been an easy tap-in for the striker as the home fans shook their head and asked: "How did he miss that?"

But it was no surprise, then, that the Caley Jags, battling a stiff wind which had been at their backs before the break, grabbed the lead less than two minutes into the second phase as Edward Ofere delivered his fourth goal in four starts, hitting the net as he lay on his back.

He has hit the ground after his header from a Watkins cross rebounded off the chest of the Dons goalkeeper and, as the ball came towards him, he contrived to scoop it from his horizontal position into the top of the Dons net.

But a chink in the Caley Thistle armour appeared in the 67th minute as McGinn's free kick from the left hit Raven's head en route for the Inverness net and, eight minutes later, as the realisation in the ranks of the Reds that they could proceed to win this game became abundantly apparent, McGinn stepped-in to bullet the loose ball Thistle could not clear following Jonny Hayes's corner-kick into the net to cap a remarkable comeback.

"We were the better team in the first half," John Hughes, the Inverness manager, insisted. "But Aberdeen have got something about them and they are where they are because of it.

"I don't know if it's the profile of the club but they know that they have to win week-in, week-out and it carries them over the line.

"They have match-winners in their team.

"My only disappointment is that we conceded two goals from set-plays and we're usually better than that.

"We play the game well and we pass the ball. We just need to be more ruthless."

Inverness CT (4-2-3-1): Esson; Raven (Kink 87), Warren, Meekings, Shinnie; Tansey, Williams; Watkins, Christie (Doran 72), Ross (Vincent 72); Ofere.Subs not used: Mackay, Vincent, Doran, Devine, Tremarco, Polworth. Booked: None.

Aberdeen (4-2-3-1): Brown; Logan, Taylor, Reynolds, Considine; Flood, Jack; Hayes, McLean (Smith 46), McGinn (Daniels 90); Rooney (Goodwillie 77). Subs not used: Langfield, Pawlett, Low, Shankland. Booked: Considine 52.

Referee: C Allan.

Attendance: 4530.

Man of the match: Scott Brown.