Aberdeen blow the chance to go top as they snatch late draw from Inverness Caley Thistle
Last week’s 4-0 win at Kilmarnock while Celtic lost at home to Motherwell presented the Dons with the chance to go to the top of the table by beating John Hughes side.
After a dismal spell of taking just one point from five matches it seemed that Aberdeen had bounced back to form with four consecutive wins.
The draw leaves the Dons in second place behind Celtic on goal difference with Ronny Deila’s side having two games in hand, tomorrow at Hearts and a match still to be arranged at home to Hamilton Accies.
With the pressure on today it took a stoppage time penalty from Adam Rooney to salvage a point after Inverness Caley Thistle had gone two goals in front early in the second half. The match was erratically refereed by Willie Collum who takes charge of Dundee v Celtic in midweek
Confidence was high before the match that Aberdeen would go to the top of the table with defender Paul Quinn saying: “We believe the players we have and the quality we have in all areas can go the distance in the season and every week put on a performance.
“We have just shown everyone again that we are a good side. Deservedly, we got the plaudits at the start of the season, we deservedly got questioned and we are getting a pat on the back with the way we have picked things up.
“We are looking to improve and, as far as Celtic are concerned, they will take care of themselves and we will take care of ourselves.
Quinn added: “There have been teams in other leagues who have looked too far ahead and that is when you get caught out.
“It is easy to get caught up in that, so we just look week to week. We had our fingers burnt last time and we don’t want that to happen again.”
Elsewhere in the SPFL Ross County beat Dundee 5-2 with former Celts Jackson Irvine and Michael Gardyne among the scorers. At New Douglas Park Kilmarnock won 1-0 away to Hamilton Accies.