Aberdeen deserve credit not criticism - Derek McInnes

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has watched his side drop points in their last two matches

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes says his team deserve credit for their performances rather than criticism for failing to go top of the table.

The Dons were held to a goalless draw by Partick Thistle days after needing a late equaliser to secure a point against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

"We're level with Celtic, we're not ahead of them as we wanted to be, but we haven't lost either game," he said.

"We've had decent passages of play in both games."

The Dons were unable to take full advantage of the defending champion's match at Dundee falling victim to the weather.

That does take them level on points with Ronny Deila's side but Celtic go into 2016 as league leaders on goal difference with two games in hand.

"I think the players deserve credit rather than criticism as we are all trying to get the right result," McInnes told BBC Scotland.

"It's a disappointed dressing room in there. The supporters are disappointed and we are all disappointed about what happened.

"But we have a lot going for us here and we are joint top of the league and we are going into the second part of the season with a lot to look forward to."

There was bad news for McInnes in the aftermath though as the hamstring injury that forced Ryan Jack off in the second half is expected to keep the Aberdeen captain sidelined for at least six weeks.

Graeme Shinnie cut the crossbar in the first half and passed up a good chance in the second half as Aberdeen were frustrated by the Jags.

"We were the dominant team in terms of chances," said McInnes. "We kept Thistle at arms length for the majority of it. We were looking for more tempo to our play.

"We made enough chances to win the game and we're disappointment. The performance was more than decent - I thought we were the better team, better chances created, but we haven't won the game and that's why we're all disappointed.

"At set plays we were a bit wasteful. You've got to credit Thistle, they defended well, but in terms of the effort they were outstanding."

Partick's Danny Seabourne (left) and Liam Lindsay celebrate at full-time

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald was delighted to see his side extend their unbeaten run to six games even though the result keeps them in seventh place.

It's now just one defeat in the last ten league matches for the Jags who now head to Celtic Park confident of extending that good rate of return.

Archibald said: "I was delighted with point and the players performance as this is a tough place to come, but we frustrated them and limited them to a few chances.

"I don't think our goalkeeper had a wonderful save to make tonight so I am delighted with that and another clean sheet.

"We even had chances to win it at the end. I was disappointed not to do better going forward in the first half but we had a wee bit of a go in the second half.

"The players trust each other after the run we have been on and it doesn't get any easier as we go to Parkhead on Saturday now.

"We can go there with confidence in terms of keeping the run going but it will need a similar performance to limit Celtic's chances."