Aberdeen and Sevco served up a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie that exposed the limitations of both sides.
The visitors were reduced to ten men after 12 minutes when Alfredo Morelos was sent off but it took Aberdeen until stoppage time to get their first shot on target- with substitute Bruce Anderson sending a low shot across Allan McGregor into the net.
Until that point, largely under Sam Cosgrove and Stevie May, Aberdeen looked like they could have played all season without creating a chance never mind score a goal.
On the half hour mark Sevco went in front from the penalty spot after Dom Ball had pulled the shirt of Josh Windass, referee Kevin Clancy could easily have sent the defender off.
Sevco looked like scoring every time they got close to the Aberdeen penalty box while the home side looked laboured and predictable in everything they tried.
Anderson had given Aberdeen a little mobility in attack, when the ball broke his way in the fourth minute of stoppage time he drilled a low shot beyond Connor Goldston and McGregor to find the corner of the net.
Morelos will automatically miss next Sunday’s match against St Mirren with Gerrard having a big decision to make over whether to select the Colombian who let him down badly in the opening match of the SPFL season.