Dundee United and Aberdeen had to settle for a share of the spoils after a grim Scottish Premiership game with few chances.
The home side did hit the woodwork but a 0-0 draw was probably a fair outcome.
However, it was a result neither side really wanted as they looked to keep alive their slim hopes of securing a top-six finish by overtaking Falkirk, who sit nine points ahead of the Terrors and 10 in front of the Dons.
The hosts made three changes to the team that drew against Kilmarnock at the weekend with Krisztian Keresztes, Zac Sapsford and Kristijan Trapanovski coming in for Ross Graham, Max Watters and the injured Craig Sibbald.
The visitors reacted to Saturday’s defeat to Dundee at Pittodrie by making four alterations to the starting line-up, as Gavin Molloy, Jack Milne, Graeme Shinnie and Kenan Bilalovic replaced Mitchel Frame, Afeez Aremu, Topi Keskinen and the suspended Liam Morrison.
The Dons had the first opportunity of the game in the eighth minute with skipper Shinnie trying his luck from long range but his shot was comfortably gathered by home goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer.
United came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the 19th minute when a Trapanovski corner was only cleared to Pan Camara 22 yards out and the midfielder hit a superb volley that cannoned off the inside of Aberdeen ‘keeper Per Kristian Bratveit’s post.
Shortly after, Camara had another chance when he latched onto a Will Ferry cross but his header was a tame one and easily held by Bratveit.
Dundee United and Aberdeen played out a 0-0 draw in the Scottish Premiership
However, as the half-hour mark passed, both sides were struggling to carve out clear-cut opportunities, a situation that was not helped by the tricky Tannadice surface.
The hosts finally had two quickfire chances but Jack Milne blocked a Trapanovski shot after a promising break, with the same United player then finding Keresztes at the back post – but the big defender sent his header across the face of the goal and failed to test Bratveit.
Aberdeen had a gilt-edged chance to break the deadlock in the 51st minute when Toyosi Olusanya raced through on goal and kept his feet under a challenge from Iurie Iovu to play in Kevin Nisbet but – instead of passing into the empty net – the striker somehow sent his shot wide of the post.
United finally had a half chance of their own in the 77th minute as Amar Fatah cut in from the right but his shot flew high and wide.
Keresztes had a late sight of goal but could only direct his header at Bratveit with sub Ivan Dolcek passing up an even better chance, blasting over the bar.
Deep in stoppage time, the ball fell perfectly for United’s Emmanuel Agyei but again, his composure deserted him at the vital moment with his shot flying into the stands.
What the managers said
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin: “The end result was fair. Both sets of players deserve credit for the way they went about their business, the pitch isn’t good, we know that.
“It was a very old-fashioned style of football. It’s a very difficult surface to get many moments of quality.
“With the fixture congestion we have, it’s hard for the groundstaff to get working on it and at this time of year the grass doesn’t grow, so it’s going to be about trying to win ugly in these games.
“I thought we were going to snatch it in the dying moments but unfortunately the ball wouldn’t sit kindly enough.
“Pan Camara was unlucky with the one off the post in the first half – he was so unlucky because it rolled across the face of goal. On another night someone taps that in, but neither ‘keeper has had much to do over the 90 minutes.
“Defensively I thought we were outstanding, we did the basics well and it was a night you had to do that. We haven’t been keeping many clean sheets but unfortunately the night we do it, we can’t capitalise at the other end.”
Aberdeen interim boss Peter Leven: “Have I seen a worse pitch? No. I know it’s been difficult with the rain and the weather, but it was so hard for the boys.
“It was tough conditions, we tried to play into pockets and it was bobbling so we changed early on and went more direct. We didn’t realise how bad the pitch was.
“Kevin [Nisbet] had his chance and used his laces rather than his instep. I thought we were good second half, the players’ attitude was amazing.
“The positive is the clean sheet, they’re dangerous from throw-ins and set plays.
“We wanted the three points, we took the game to them more in the second half and they didn’t threaten us much until the last few minutes.
“It’s going to be tough against Hearts this weekend but hopefully the pitch will be better.”
