Aberdeen stay a point behind Motherwell in the SPL table after sharing a goalless draw at Pittodrie.
Dons held at home in SPL stalemate
Aberdeen stay a point behind Motherwell in the SPL table after sharing a goalless draw at Pittodrie.
The visitors had the better of the first half with Lucas Jutkiewicz heading wide from six yards out after 18 minutes.
The Dons improved after half-time, but in truth neither side deserved to emerge from the contest with the three-point haul.
Mark Kerr spurned a great opportunity to open the scoring after only three minutes when a Charlie Mulgrew free-kick was headed into his path but the Aberdeen midfielder dragged his shot wide from the edge of the box.
The vocal travelling support were appealing for a penalty after 10 minutes when Jim O'Brien fell under pressure from a clumsy Jerel Ifil challenge but referee Chris Boyle waved play on.
The home side should have taken the lead after 18 minutes when Steven Hammell's pinpoint cross found Jutkiewicz but he somehow headed wide from six yards.
Waved away protests
The Dons had a penalty claim of their own turned down after 27 minutes when goalkeeper John Ruddy barged Darren Mackie over while trying to gather a hanging Mulgrew cross but again the referee waved away the protests.
Motherwell made an early, attacking substitution just after the half-hour mark when Hammell was withdrawn for John Sutton, with the left-back unhappy at having to make way for the tactical change.
Sutton should have done better just before the break when he failed to hit the target with a free header from an O'Brien corner. Again he wriggled free of his marker to get on the end of a Ross Forbes free kick on the stroke of half-time but could not keep his header under the crossbar.
Aberdeen made a change at the break with 17-year-old Crawford replaced by Michael Paton with Richard Foster moving to right back.
Paton almost made an immediate impact but his shot on the turn was deflected wide by Thomas Hateley for a fruitless corner.
At the other end Jamie Murphy darted down the right before crossing for Jutkiewicz but his header was easily gathered by Jamie Langfield.
Opening
Paton was looking lively and he created an opening for Sone Aluko but the winger's shot did not trouble Ruddy.
The home support were again screaming for a penalty after 65 minutes when Lee Miller collided with Stephen Craigan in the box.
Grassi came on for his Aberdeen debut a minute later with Darren Mackie making way.
Referee Boyle again chose against awarding a spot-kick when Miller and Mark Reynolds jostled for the ball in the box before the Dons striker headed over from a Fraser Fyvie cross after 77 minutes.
Steven Saunders was relieved to see his goalkeeper palm his goalbound defensive header over his own goal as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
The Dons continued to press for a winner but it could have been the visitors who left with all three points had Sutton managed to divert his header on target in the final minute.
