But Chris Maguire's cross into the box was punched by Pars goalie Kyle Allison against team-mate Neil McGregor's legs and the ball rebounded into the net.
Earlier, Dunfermline's Andy Kirk and Maguire had come close to an opener.
Aberdeen manager Craig Brown was forced into an early change, midfielder Rob Milsom limping off and Derek Young coming on as an eighth-minute substitute.
The Scottish Cup quarter-final draw had been made before play had begun, so the teams were aware that the prize for progression was an away tie with the Buddies.
Dunfermline, sitting second in the Scottish First Division, were the first team to indicate how keen they were to make the trip to Paisley.
Brown happy at result not performance
Kirk was just six yards out when he hit an angled shot across goal that fizzed past the Aberdeen post.
In 15 minutes Aberdeen's Scott Vernon struck a right-foot shot over the bar from inside the box, having brought under control Paul Hartley's pinpoint free-kick with his left, though Rutkiewicz did just enough to put the striker off.
Aberdeen midfielder Ryan Jack tested the alertness of replacement keeper Allison in 35 minutes when he worked the ball on to his left foot and lofted a shot at goal.
Allison, in for regular keeper Chris Smith after his red card in the previous round against Montrose, was untroubled, though.
Aberdeen displayed an enthusiasm for the task, with left-back Stevie Smith hurrying forward at every opportunity.
The Pars were largely contained in their own territory in the first period, but their number nine Pat Clarke made a dash for goal as the fans contemplated half-time refreshments.
However, his left-footed effort trundled across the bare Pittodrie surface and rolled into the arms of Jamie Langfield.
One of Brown's first pieces of business on taking charge at Aberdeen was to sign Blackman from Motherwell, the club where the pair last worked together.
Aberdeen's Milsom is helped off the pitch early in the first halfHe has an eye for goal and an elegance on the ball at times, but at the beginning of the second half he was engaged in the rougher side of the game.
First he flew into a clumsy challenge on Callum Woods, for which he was fortunate not to be booked, then, having flashed a low shot from 18 yards across goal, he was on the receiving end of a crack on the shin from the Pars player he had up-ended.
The Pars full-back escaped with a talking-to from referee Willie Collum but that bruising encounter marked the end of Blackman's involvement and Peter Pawlett was given the chance to create a chance from midfield.
Twenty second-half minutes had passed before the crowd witnessed a truly threatening attempt at goal.
Maguire was 25 yards out when he received the ball from the right wing and, with a burst of pace across his marker, he found space to crack a dipping shot just over the bar.
The Pars almost caught Aberdeen out when Clarke made a surging run into their half, attracting four players in red who seemingly failed to notice Kirk running in support.
Clarke's pass to Kirk was nicely weighted and Langfield had to be on his toes to keep the Pars striker's shot out.
With 20 minutes to go, Alex Keddie made a vital challenge on Maguire when the Scotland Under-21 striker raced into the box. The visiting defence stopped, assuming Collum would blow for a foul when the pair clashed.
Aberdeen played on, though, and when the ball fell to Jack he could not shape his body to direct the ball at goal and instead stabbed the ball harmlessly wide.
Nick Phinn screwed a shot wide of Langfield's post in a move that had Dons' hearts in mouths in injury-time before Aberdeen won it with almost the last touch of the ball.
Maguire scampered down the right wing and crossed into the six-yard box where Allison punched the ball against McGregor's legs and the ball ricocheted into the net for a winner that will be hard to take for the Pars.
Live text and stats ?
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Scottish Cup
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Aberdeen
1-0
Dunfermline
FT
(HT 0-0)
McGregor (og) 90+2
Aberdeen
01?Langfield
02?McArdle
05?Diamond
13?Vujadinovic
16?Smith
08?Hartley
22?Jack (Magennis 81)
27?Milsom (Young 8)
07?Maguire
09?Vernon
24?Blackman (Pawlett 56)
Substitutes
21?Howard,
14?Young,
15?Pawlett,
19?Paton,
20?Magennis
Dunfermline
01?Allison
02?Callum Woods
03?McCann
05?Rutkiewicz (McGregor 79)
06?Keddie
04?Mason
11?Cardle (Thomson 88)
07?Graham
08?Burke (Phinn 77)
09?Clarke
10?Kirk
Substitutes
20?Paterson,
14?McGregor,
12?Thomson,
15?Phinn,
16?Willis
Ref:?CollumAtt:?5,636
ABERDEEN DUNFERMLINE
Possession
Aberdeen 58%
Dunfermline 42%
Attempts on target
Aberdeen 5
Dunfermline 3
Attempts off target
Aberdeen 7
Dunfermline 2
Corners
Aberdeen 7
Dunfermline 6
Fouls
Aberdeen 10
Dunfermline 6
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:08 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+1:49 The assist for the goal came from Chris Maguire.
90:00+1:49 GOAL - Neil McGregor:Aberdeen 1 - 0 Dunfermline An own goal is scored by Neil McGregor. Aberdeen 1-0 Dunfermline.
90:00+1:04 Nick Phinn has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright. The ball is swung over by
Chris Maguire.
90:00+0:12 Scott Vernon produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
89:00 Alex Keddie fouled by Josh Magennis, the ref awards a free kick. Kyle Allison restarts play with the free kick.
88:35 Corner taken by Chris Maguire from the right by-line, Alex Keddie makes a clearance.
87:34 Substitution Ryan Thomson is brought on as a substitute for Joe Cardle.
86:48 Centre by Steven Smith, save by Kyle Allison.
84:51 The ball is crossed by Chris Maguire, Austin McCann gets a block in. Corner taken left-footed by Steven Smith, save by Kyle
Allison.
84:38 Centre by Rory McArdle.
84:01 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Hartley by Joe Cardle. Direct free kick taken by Paul Hartley.
82:49 Chris Maguire takes the inswinging corner, Close range headed effort by Zander Diamond goes wide of the left-hand upright.
82:36 Centre by Josh Magennis, Alex Keddie manages to make a clearance.
80:33 Substitution Ryan Jack leaves the field to be replaced by Josh Magennis.
80:09 Centre by David Graham, Zander Diamond makes a clearance.
78:42 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Kirk by Steven Smith. Free kick taken by Kyle Allison.
78:42 Substitution (Dunfermline) makes a substitution, with Neil McGregor coming on for Kevin Rutkiewicz.
76:22 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Chris Maguire from the left by-line to the near post. Foul by Steven Smith on Andy
Kirk, free kick awarded. Calum Woods takes the direct free kick.
76:22 Substitution (Dunfermline) makes a substitution, with Nick Phinn coming on for Alex Burke.
74:51 A cross is delivered by Steven Smith, blocked by Calum Woods. Chris Maguire decides to take a short corner.
73:46 The ball is sent over by Steven Smith, Alex Keddie makes a clearance.
71:27 The ball is delivered by Derek Young, Calum Woods makes a clearance.
68:16 Andy Kirk produces a drilled right-footed shot from 12 yards. Nikola Vujadinovic gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken
by Joe Cardle, Nikola Vujadinovic manages to make a clearance.
66:56 Chris Maguire crosses the ball.
66:38 The ball is swung over by Chris Maguire, clearance by Alex Keddie.
63:49 Chris Maguire produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.
62:25 The ball is delivered by Derek Young.
61:27 David Graham is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield. The ball is swung over
by Peter Pawlett, Kevin Rutkiewicz makes a clearance.
58:04 The ball is delivered by Rory McArdle, clearance by Calum Woods.
55:33 Substitution Peter Pawlett joins the action as a substitute, replacing Nick Blackman.
54:39 Unfair challenge on Alex Burke by Derek Young results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Kevin Rutkiewicz.
53:40 Unfair challenge on Steven Smith by Joe Cardle results in a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the direct free kick.
52:00 Nick Blackman fouled by Calum Woods, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Hartley takes the free kick. Shot by Chris Maguire.
Blocked by Gary Mason.
50:19 Shot from just outside the box by Nick Blackman misses to the right of the target.
47:41 Calum Woods fouled by Nick Blackman, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Rutkiewicz.
45:34 The assistant referee signals for offside against Joe Cardle. Jamie Langfield takes the indirect free kick.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
Half Time
45:00+1:22 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
45:00+0:25 Inswinging corner taken by Steven Smith from the right by-line, Scott Vernon produces a header from inside the area that goes
over the crossbar.
42:44 Scott Vernon concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin Rutkiewicz. Kevin Rutkiewicz takes the free kick.
41:58 Patrick Clarke takes a shot. Save by Jamie Langfield.
39:44 Foul by Zander Diamond on Andy Kirk, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Austin McCann. Patrick Clarke concedes a free kick
for a foul on Steven Smith. Jamie Langfield restarts play with the free kick.
35:02 Corner taken by David Graham played to the near post, clearance by Rory McArdle.
33:32 Ryan Jack takes a shot. Save made by Kyle Allison.
31:03 Chris Maguire takes a shot. Kyle Allison makes a comfortable save.
30:44 The ball is delivered by Ryan Jack, Kevin Rutkiewicz manages to make a clearance. Steven Smith produces a cross.
30:33 Centre by Steven Smith, clearance made by Gary Mason.
28:05 Foul by Nikola Vujadinovic on Andy Kirk, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Calum Woods.
27:15 A cross is delivered by Rory McArdle. Derek Young delivers the ball.
26:03 Andy Kirk is caught offside. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.
25:43 Chris Maguire sends in a cross, Scott Vernon takes a shot. Save made by Kyle Allison.
24:58 Alex Keddie concedes a free kick for a foul on Zander Diamond. Jamie Langfield takes the direct free kick.
24:19 The ball is sent over by Andy Kirk, clearance made by Nikola Vujadinovic. Corner taken by Joe Cardle from the left by-line,
clearance made by Zander Diamond.
23:38 Rory McArdle produces a cross, Scott Vernon has a headed effort at goal from just inside the area that misses to the right
of the target.
22:59 Andy Kirk sends in a cross, Nikola Vujadinovic gets a block in. David Graham takes a floated corner.
21:47 Unfair challenge on Kevin Rutkiewicz by Chris Maguire results in a free kick. Kyle Allison takes the direct free kick. Chris
Maguire produces a cross.
20:29 Shot by Steven Smith. Blocked by Gary Mason.
19:51 The ball is delivered by Joe Cardle, Paul Hartley gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by David Graham from
the right by-line to the near post, Steven Smith manages to make a clearance.
18:47 Corner taken by Joe Cardle from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Nikola Vujadinovic.
17:48 David Graham takes a shot. Jamie Langfield makes a comfortable save.
14:18 Shot on goal by Scott Vernon from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
13:42 The ball is crossed by Chris Maguire, Kevin Rutkiewicz makes a clearance.
12:44 Corner taken right-footed by Chris Maguire from the right by-line to the near post, Austin McCann manages to make a clearance.
10:45 Steven Smith crosses the ball.
9:29 The ball is swung over by Chris Maguire, blocked by David Graham.
8:28 The ball is delivered by Derek Young.
7:35 Substitution (Aberdeen) makes a substitution, with Derek Young coming on for Robert Milsom.
5:09 Andy Kirk produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
4:24 Paul Hartley challenges Gary Mason unfairly and gives away a free kick. Alex Burke takes the direct free kick.
3:36 Andy Kirk is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.
2:05 The ball is sent over by Ryan Jack.
1:24 Unfair challenge on Nikola Vujadinovic by Andy Kirk results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport