Match ends, Aberdeen 1, St Johnstone 1.
AberdeenAberdeen1St JohnstoneSt Johnstone1
Aberdeen and St Johnstone could not be separated as the hosts failed to take full advantage of Motherwell's humbling Tannadice defeat.
A Dons win would have secured European football, but Saints were deserving of their Pittodrie point.
And it was a tale of two errors that provided the goals.
Stevie May capitalised on Clark Robertson's pass-back early on before Chris Millar returned the favour for Adam Rooney to level.
It is now five draws in six league games for the Dons as they try to seal their highest league finish since 1994.
Aberdeen welcomed Ryan Jack back from suspension with Robertson making his first appearance since the League Cup quarter-final win at Motherwell in October, where he sustained a cartilage injury.
Millar and Nigel Hasselbaink were handed Saints starts with young player of the year candidate May - whose two goals knocked the Dons out of the Scottish Cup just two weeks ago, in his usual post up front.
The Aberdeen fans unfurled a banner as the teams made their way on to the Pittodrie pitch, supporting manager Derek McInnes's hopes of being named manager of the year.
One of the other candidates was in the opposing dug-out in Tommy Wright.
The sea haar that had dogged the Granite City throughout the day lifted just in time for kick-off.
But Robertson still struggled to find a team-mate in just seven minutes.
The only thing missing was the gift wrap and ribbons as his attempt to find Mark Reynolds went straight to May, who gobbled up the unexpected chance to score his 27th of the season.
It was a fine finish in the end from a player who is ready to open contract talks with Saints next week.
It took the Dons 20 minutes to wake up and Russell Anderson tried his luck from distance, but goalkeeper Alan Mannus beat the ball to safety.
Saints midfielder Millar had one of his finest matches when he helped his team into their first Scottish Cup final, but he somehow managed to pen the sequel to Robertson's horror story as Aberdeen squared the game on the half hour.
His almost identical pass-back went straight to Rooney, who took it away from Mannus and knocked it into the empty net.
Jonny Hayes then saw his cross-cum-shot free kick tipped over by Mannus with Robertson's glancing header easily held from the resulting corner.
Peter Pawlett forced a close-range save from Mannus at the start of the second half as both teams struggled to grab hold of the game, with Robertson then hooked for the experienced Barry Robson.
On the hour mark, Millar tested Dons goalkeeper Jamie Langfield, who saved comfortably.
Chances were at a premium in the second half, although Langfield almost completed the trilogy of errors late on when he allowed a Reynolds pass-back to roll under his foot, but the ball went behind for a corner.
Hayes almost snatched a winner for the Dons in the final minute, but his overhead effort was saved well by Mannus.
Aberdeen do move four points clear of Motherwell in second place, but with trips to Celtic Park and Tannadice up next, it is far from a foregone conclusion.
Line-ups
Aberdeen
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Langfield
- 29Logan
- 3RobertsonSubstituted forRobsonat 57'minutes
- 8Flood
- 4AndersonBooked at 83mins
- 6Reynolds
- 10McGinnSubstituted forZola-Makongoat 86'minutes
- 22Jack
- 17Rooney
- 16PawlettSubstituted forSmithat 68'minutes
- 11Hayes
Substitutes
- 7Zola-Makongo
- 9Vernon
- 14Smith
- 15Robson
- 20Weaver
- 24McManus
- 35Murray
St Johnstone
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Mannus
- 2Mackay
- 24Easton
- 12DunneBooked at 71mins
- 6Anderson
- 5Wright
- 10WotherspoonBooked at 76mins
- 4CreggBooked at 65minsSubstituted forMacLeanat 78'minutes
- 17May
- 11HasselbainkSubstituted forCroftat 62'minutes
- 7MillarSubstituted forMillerat 90+3'minutes
Substitutes
- 9MacLean
- 15Banks
- 19Miller
- 22Croft
- 23Clancy
- 25Iwelumo
- 44Thomson
- Referee:
- Alan Muir
- Attendance:
- 10,003
Match Stats
Home TeamAberdeenAway TeamSt Johnstone
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away2
- Corners
- Home7
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aberdeen 1, St Johnstone 1.
Substitution
Substitution, St Johnstone. Gary Miller replaces Chris Millar.
Post update
Corner, St Johnstone. Conceded by Willo Flood.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Steve May (St Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt saved. Adam Rooney (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Steven Anderson (St Johnstone) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Post update
Corner, St Johnstone. Conceded by Mark Reynolds.
Post update
Russell Anderson (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by David Wotherspoon (St Johnstone).
Post update
Foul by Russell Anderson (Aberdeen).
Post update
Frazer Wright (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Calvin Zola replaces Niall McGinn.
Post update
Willo Flood (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Steve May (St Johnstone).
Post update
Attempt blocked. David Mackay (St Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Russell Anderson (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Russell Anderson (Aberdeen).
Post update
David Wotherspoon (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Mark Reynolds (Aberdeen).
