Dons and County share spoils

Ross County continued their long unbeaten run with a 0-0 draw in the Scottish Premier League against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday.

Last Updated: 11/08/12 at 17:15

Rae: Headed wide for Aberdeen

Rae: Headed wide for Aberdeen

The Dons enjoyed the better of the chances with Gavin Rae guilty of heading wide in the best opening, but the Staggies defended resolutely to make it 36 league games without defeat.

A very healthy crowd of 14,010 were in attendance to witness the first ever competitive match between the sides.

Despite gifting Celtic a 1-0 win a week ago, Dons boss Craig Brown kept faith with goalkeeper Jamie Langfield, while defender Mark Reynolds, who has returned to Pittodrie on a season-long loan from Sheffield Wednesday, had to be content with a place on the bench.

Ross County boss Derek Adams, again without the suspended Stuart Kettlewell, made only one change to the side that opened their SPL campaign with a goalless draw against Motherwell with Sam Morrow replacing midfielder Russell Duncan.

A minute's applause was held before the start of the match in tribute to Aberdeen club stalwart Teddy Scott, who died in June at the age of 83.

The Dons, eager to avoid opening the new SPL campaign with back-to-back defeats, made an encouraging start with a clever flick by Scott Vernon giving Stephen Hughes a sight of goal but the midfielder fired into the side-netting.

The visitors had a penalty claim waved away by referee Euan Norris when Scott Boyd fell in the box under pressure from Dons skipper Russell Anderson, before Martin Scott passed up a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock when he sliced his shot wide with his left foot with only Langfield to beat.

However, it was the hosts who looked the more likely to open the scoring with County stopper Michael Fraser called upon to keep out a low Hughes effort before Rae thundered a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

County captain Richard Brittain went close with a well-struck left-foot shot before the lively Jonny Hayes dragged an effort wide as the first half ended goalless.

The Dons should have made the breakthrough within six minutes of the restart when Gary Naysmith's back-post cross found Rae in acres of space, but the former Dundee midfielder somehow headed wide when it looked easier to score.

The home side were dealt a blow after 65 minutes when new signing Niall McGinn was stretchered off following an innocuous collision with Grant Munro and replaced by Ryan Fraser.

The Dons were dominating proceedings and threw on an extra attacker in Josh Magennis for Ryan Jack as they pushed for a winner in the closing stages.

However, it was the visitors who could have stolen the points with Brittain drawing a smart save from Langfield as the clock counted down.

Despite surviving a late scare when Vernon shot straight at Fraser from six yards out, County held on for a point as they proved they would be no pushovers this season with their second successive draw.

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More Match Results

Sunday, 19 May 2013
12:45
Dundee Utd 0-4 Celtic  
Ross Co 1-0 Inverness  
St J'stone 2-0 Motherwell  
Saturday, 18 May 2013
15:00
Aberdeen 1-1 Hearts Report
Hibernian 1-0 Dundee Report
Kilmarnock 1-3 St Mirren Report
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
19:45
Kilmarnock 1-3 Hibernian  
Sunday, 12 May 2013
16:05
Motherwell 2-0 Ross Co Report
12:00
Hearts 1-2 Hibernian Report
Saturday, 11 May 2013
15:00
Dundee 2-3 Kilmarnock  

Clydesdale Bank Premier League

Position Team P GD PTS
1 Celtic 38 57 79
2 Motherwell 38 16 63
3 St J'stone 38 1 56
4 Inverness 38 4 54
5 Ross Co 38 -1 53
6 Dundee Utd 38 -11 47
7 Hibernian 38 -3 51
8 Aberdeen 38 -2 48
9 Kilmarnock 38 -1 45
10 Hearts 38 -9 44
11 St Mirren 38 -13 41
12 Dundee 38 -38 30

Updated Sun, 19 May 2013

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