Del: We must break blank to catch Hibs in third place
Misfiring Dons blow another chance to put pressure on
Frustrated Derek McInnes admits Aberdeen have very little room for error if they are to beat Hibs to third spot.
The Dons edged a point closer after this stalemate with Hamilton.
But boss McInnes saw it as another golden opportunity missed as his side failed to take their chances.
It is now just one goal and one win in nine games for the Pittodrie outfit and McInnes said: “It’s not easy but it’s certainly not beyond us and there’s not a lot of room for error now.
“We are going to have to outshoot Hibs in terms of gett ing results and we certainly can’t fall further behind them.
“The post- split games are where it will be sorted out and we should have three at home.”
Dons drew another blank but McInnes insisted it is not for a lack of trying.
He said: “We tried to play our front three against their back three and all three had chances.
“If you get the first goal it helps with confidence, the f low of the game, but if you don’t score when you’re on top it can come back to bite you.
“We have to take confidence from the clean sheet and being a point closer to Hibs but we felt we missed an opportunity.”
McInnes made two changes with Dylan McGeouch and Callum Hendry coming in for Connor McLennan and Dean Campbell.
Accies went with a makeshift front two of David Moyo and winger Nathan Thomas with the injured Marios Ogkmpoe and on-loan Dons str iker Bruce Anderson dropping out.
This was a bit of a slow burner before Ross Callachan played in Moyo, whose low shot was held by Joe Lewis.
Accies were nearly the architects of their own downfall in the 17th minute.
Lee Hodson played the ball back to Jamie Hamilton who slipped and allowed Niall McGinn to burst into the box.
The Northern Irish star squared to Flo Kamberi but he took too many touches and Aaron Martin managed to get a block in, then skipper Brian Easton cleared McGinn’s follow-up effort off the line.
Aberdeen continued to push and Kamberi ’s pass found McGinn on the left. He fired in a low cross that was swept over the bar by Hendry.
McGinn’s corner from the opposite side eventually dropped to Hendry again but this time Scott McMann dived in to clear.
The Dons pushed and a superb bal l f rom Ross McCrorie up the right released Kamberi. He pulled the ball back but Hendry knocked it across the gaping goal. The on-loan St Johnstone striker could easily have had a hattrick but the positive for the Dons was at least he was getting into the right positions.
Accies defended doggedly and that allowed them to come back into things at the end of the half.
On- form Cal lachan’s determined run found Thomas who set up Moyo.
The striker cut inside and had a shot blocked by Tommie Hoban before Lee Hodson had another effort charged down by Andrew Considine.
Thomas suffered a knock in that attack and had to make way for Callum Smith seconds later and he left the stadium after the f inal whistle on crutches.
Ash Taylor made a good block to deny McMann but Accies won it back and when Cal lachan’s f ierce 30-yarder took a deflection off Taylor, keeper Lewis was at full stretch as he was forced to tip the ball wide.
Aberdeen tried to make the final attack of the half count but McGinn pulled his shot wide after good work by Johnny Hayes.
The Dons were keen to regain the initiative at the start of the second half.
Kamberi got up well but couldn’t get enough power on his header and Fulton was able to gather. Hayes then found McGinn on the left but his shot was well pushed away by the Accies No.1.
Referee Bobby Madden and his assistants then infuriated Accies with a couple of decisions.
First, McGeouch’s tackle sent Accies through but the action was halted for offside even though it was clearly played by a home player.
Accies also felt they should have had a penalty when Martin’s shot hit the arm of Considine in the box,.
They then missed a glorious opportunity to win it in the 78th minute.
Moyo’s cross found Smith but he mis-kicked when he looked set to score.
The ball fell to Martin but his effort was blocked by Considine before Hodson’s shot was eventually gathered by a relieved Lewis.