SUPER STAND-OFF

Frustration as Dundee and Dons share points in thriller

THIS may have been an enthralling contest — but the result ultimately suited neither side.

With rock-bottom Dundee desperate to beat the drop and Aberdeen equally determined to make the top six, a win was a must for both sides.

However, once the dust settled, they had to be satisfied with a share of the points.

Calvin Ramsay opened the scoring for the Dons just before the break with a stunning strike — his first goal for the club.

Dundee equalised in the second half thanks to Jordan McGhee before Aberdeen took the lead again in the 81st minute through Ross McCrorie.

However, the hosts fought back to snatch a crucial point when Danny Mullen headed home.

The result was a hammer blow to Aberdeen and their top-six aspirations with bottom of the table Dundee now six points behind St Johnstone in 11th.

Dark Blues boss Mark McGhee made one change from the team that lost to Rangers two weeks ago, with Declan McDaid making way for Mullen.

Dundee also welcomed back skipper Charlie Adam after a long lay-off with a hamstring injury but he was only fit enough to take a place on the bench after suffering from sickness.

Dons manager Jim Goodwin kept faith with the same side who beat Hibs 3-1 at Pittodrie before the international break, his first victory since taking the reins at Aberdeen.

The hosts pressed from the first whistle, with Christie Elliott fizzing a great ball across the face of the Dons goal but there was no-one in a dark-blue jersey on hand to take advantage.

Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson had his side’s first chance of the game but his long-range effort did not trouble Dundee keeper Ian Lawlor, flying high and wide.

A similar attempt from distance in the 11th minute from Connor McLennan beat Lawlor all ends up but the ball crashed back off the crossbar.

From the resulting corner, David Bates produced a powerful header but Lawlor pulled off a spectacular one-handed save.

Aberdeen twice came close to breaking the deadlock in the 35th minute, with Ramsay cutting in from the right and unleashing a stunning 30-yard shot that Lawlor saved brilliantly. The ball was worked back to Christian Ramirez and his shot was cleared off the line by home defender Cammy Kerr.

However, the Dons did take the lead in the 41st minute — and it was a carbon copy of Ramsay’s previous attempt, although this time he made no mistake.

The full-back again cut in from the right and rifled an unstoppable left-foot shot past Lawlor’s despairing dive and into the back of the net.

That half-time lead was no more than Aberdeen deserved.

Dundee had two penalty appeals in quick succession after the break.

First, Zak Rudden went down in the box. Then the home players claimed for a McCrorie hand ball but on both occasions referee John Beaton was not moved.

Adam was then brought off the bench and he made an immediate impact in the 62nd minute.

Dundee were awarded a free-kick wide on the left, with the former Scotland midfielder swinging a great ball into the Aberdeen box and McGhee headed home from close range at the back post.

The Aberdeen fans behind Lawlor’s goal were then howling for a penalty for a push on Ferguson — but again the officials saw no offence.

Lawlor had to come to Dundee’s rescue once more in the 75th minute when Ferguson struck a crisp 25-yard effort and the keeper dived low to his left to save.

The goalkeeper had to make another vital save at his near post after Jonny Hayes robbed Kerr before advancing on goal and hitting a fierce shot.

However, the Dons did take the lead again in the 81st minute. There were shouts for a penalty when Vicente Besuijen fell in the Dundee box but play raged on and substitute Marley Watkins nodded on to McCrorie, who fired low past Lawlor to the joy of the travelling support.

That delight was short-lived, with Dundee equalising for the second time just five minutes later with Adam again the free-kick provider for Mullen to glance a header home past Joe Lewis.

In the 90th minute, Watkins had a chance to win it for the Dons but Lawlor saved with his feet.