Aberdeen and Ross County are both still waiting for their first goal of the season, with the home side particularly wasteful at Pittodrie.

County stood toe to toe with Craig Brown's side in an even first half.

But it was the Dons who were in control after the break and Gavin Rae ought to have found the target with an unchallenged header in front of goal.

Hughes was in fine form for the Dons but could not believe they could not score

Hughes was in fine form for the Dons but could not believe they could not score

Scott Vernon also passed up a great chance as County survived to start their top-flight life with two draws.

It stretches the Dingwall side's unbeaten league run to 36 games - a full calander year - and left frustrated much of a large crowd boosted by the Sell Out Saturday campaign designed to compensate for the financial loss of Rangers to Scottish Premier League clubs.

The attendance of 14,000 was 8,000 short of capacity but 4,000 more than watched the Dons' opener last season.

Little has changed on the field of play, however - as that too ended goalless, although an unchanged Aberdeen continued to show the kind of promise they displayed last weekend as they ran the reigning champions close before a late mistake by goalkeeper Jamie Langfield handed Celtic victory.

The Aberdeen support appeared buoyed by that promising display in Glasgow and their anticipation heightened as Stephen Hughes fired into the side netting from just inside the County penalty box after a clever Vernon flick set up the midfielder.

Sam Morrow, chosen to start for County in place of Russell Duncan, was causing problems and his presence alone was enough to distract a Dons defence that looked so comfortable at Celtic Park as a cross found its way to Martin Scott.

However, the midfielder back at Victoria Park on loan from Hibernian sliced his drive wide from 15 yards.

Hughes powered into the visitors' box but fired weakly straight at goalkeeper Michael Fraser, while County's Richard Brittain and the Dons' Jonny Hayes sent low drives just wide from distance.

Aberdeen started the second half brightly and three men with Scotland experience ought to have put the home side ahead.

Hughes' clever ball put Gary Naysmith clear down the left and the full-back's cross found Rae rising unmarked 12 yards out, but the veteran midfielder's downward header bounced clear of the far post.

As with the first half, County managed to stifle the home side's early momentum and the home side suffered another blow when winger Niall McGinn was stretchered off after the summer signing went down heavily after a challenge with Grant Munro.

County were rarely threatening but were almost handed the opener by a poor clearance by Langfield that was pounced upon by Duncan.

However, the goalkeeper made amends, stopping Brittain's low 16-yard drive with his legs.

Vernon missed a sitter when found by a free-kick by McGinn's replacement, Ryan Fraser, but the striker passed the ball straight into goalkeeper Fraser's arms.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (5)

Aberdeen

  • 01 Langfield
  • 02 Jack Booked (Magennis - 74' )
  • 04 Anderson
  • 06 Considine
  • 17 Naysmith
  • 05 Rae
  • 11 Hayes (Pawlett - 79' )
  • 16 Osbourne
  • 18 Hughes
  • 09 Vernon Booked
  • 10 McGinn (Fraser - 66' )

Substitutes

  • 32 Brown
  • 22 Reynolds
  • 07 Clark
  • 08 Milsom
  • 15 Pawlett
  • 20 Fraser
  • 21 Magennis

Ross County

  • 01 Fraser
  • 03 Fitzpatrick
  • 04 Munro
  • 05 Boyd
  • 06 Tokely Booked
  • 08 Lawson (Duncan - 52' )
  • 09 McMenamin Booked
  • 10 Brittain
  • 11 Vigurs
  • 14 Scott
  • 17 Morrow (Corcoran - 64' )

Substitutes

  • 28 McCarthy
  • 22 Kovacevic
  • 23 Macphee
  • 15 Corcoran
  • 18 Duncan
  • 24 Ross
  • 27 Porritt
Ref: Norris
Att: 14,010

Match Stats

Shots

11 4

On target

5 1

Corners

5 4

Fouls

10 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:21 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +3:48

Centre by Mark Corcoran, Gary Naysmith makes a clearance.

90:00 +3:03

The ball is swung over by Isaac Osbourne, clearance made by Scott Boyd.

90:00 +1:49

Josh Magennis concedes a free kick for a foul on Ross Tokely. Free kick taken by Michael Fraser.

90:00 +1:23

Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

90:00 +1:23 Booking

Booking Colin McMenamin is shown a yellow card.

90:00 +1:12

Colin McMenamin concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen Hughes.

90:00 +0:32

Iain Vigurs takes a shot and went wide left of the target.

89:36

Corner from the left by-line taken by Ryan Fraser, Grant Munro makes a clearance.

89:19

Centre by Ryan Fraser, clearance made by Scott Boyd.

89:00

Russell Duncan concedes a free kick for a foul on Ryan Fraser. Free kick taken by Stephen Hughes.

87:59

The ball is swung over by Ryan Fraser.

87:45

Centre by Ryan Fraser, clearance by Grant Munro.

85:11

Ryan Fraser crosses the ball, Scott Vernon takes a shot. Save by Michael Fraser.

84:21

Corner taken by Ryan Fraser.

84:04

The ball is swung over by Ryan Fraser, blocked by Richard Brittain.

80:56

Ryan Fraser produces a cross, Scott Vernon takes a shot. Save by Michael Fraser.

80:56 Booking

Booking Booking for Ross Tokely.

80:47

Foul by Ross Tokely on Ryan Fraser, free kick awarded.

79:42

Iain Vigurs takes a corner.

79:19

Russell Anderson fouled by Colin McMenamin, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Russell Anderson.

78:04 Substitution

Substitution (Aberdeen) makes a substitution, with Peter Pawlett coming on for Johnny Hayes.

76:35

Marc Fitzpatrick fouled by Scott Vernon, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Fraser takes the free kick.

75:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by Russell Duncan on Stephen Hughes. Direct free kick taken by Johnny Hayes.

75:02

Shot from 18 yards by Richard Brittain. Jamie Langfield makes a save.

73:24

Michael Fraser takes the direct free kick.

73:24 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Jack goes off and Josh Magennis comes on.

73:24 Booking

Booking Booking for Scott Vernon.

73:16

The referee gives a free kick against Scott Vernon for handball.

73:00

Isaac Osbourne sends in a cross.

72:16

The ball is crossed by Ross Tokely, clearance by Andrew Considine.

71:25

Colin McMenamin fouled by Scott Vernon, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Fraser takes the direct free kick.

70:50

Unfair challenge on Ryan Jack by Martin Scott results in a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.

69:59

Corner taken right-footed by Stephen Hughes from the left by-line, save made by Michael Fraser.

68:31

Scott Boyd challenges Scott Vernon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Johnny Hayes fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, blocked by Iain Vigurs.

67:04

Isaac Osbourne fouled by Mark Corcoran, the ref awards a free kick. Johnny Hayes delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, clearance by Iain Vigurs.

66:40

The ball is swung over by Gary Naysmith, clearance by Grant Munro.

65:24 Substitution

Substitution Niall McGinn goes off and Ryan Fraser comes on.

63:50 Substitution

Substitution Sam Morrow goes off and Mark Corcoran comes on.

61:07

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Grant Munro by Russell Anderson. Michael Fraser restarts play with the free kick.

60:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Johnny Hayes by Sam Morrow. Stephen Hughes crosses the ball in from the free kick.

60:05

Short corner worked by Stephen Hughes.

59:48

The ball is swung over by Johnny Hayes, Scott Boyd manages to make a clearance.

58:11

Isaac Osbourne is ruled offside. Michael Fraser restarts play with the free kick.

55:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Colin McMenamin by Gavin Rae. Iain Vigurs delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel.

51:43

Direct free kick taken by Iain Vigurs.

51:43 Substitution

Substitution Russell Duncan comes on in place of Paul Lawson.

51:43

Andrew Considine concedes a free kick for a foul on Sam Morrow.

51:09

Gavin Rae has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

49:59

Gary Naysmith sends in a cross, Headed effort from close range by Gavin Rae goes wide left of the goal.

48:25

Johnny Hayes produces a cross.

47:16

A cross is delivered by Gary Naysmith.

45:45

Ryan Jack has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +1:13 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +0:19

Gary Naysmith crosses the ball, save by Michael Fraser.

44:50

The offside flag is raised against Iain Vigurs. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie Langfield.

44:35

The ball is swung over by Richard Brittain.

44:07

Corner taken short by Richard Brittain.

42:36

Ryan Jack produces a cross, Ross Tokely manages to make a clearance.

41:09

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Richard Brittain, save by Jamie Langfield.

40:17

Foul by Gavin Rae on Richard Brittain, free kick awarded. Iain Vigurs crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, save made by Jamie Langfield.

39:25

Shot from just outside the area by Johnny Hayes misses to the right of the target.

38:06

Shot from long distance by Richard Brittain goes wide of the left-hand post.

36:34

Niall McGinn crosses the ball, Richard Brittain makes a clearance.

34:40

Shot by Niall McGinn. Save made by Michael Fraser.

33:31

Handball by Isaac Osbourne. Michael Fraser restarts play with the free kick.

30:48

Shot from just outside the box by Gavin Rae goes over the bar.

29:40

Foul by Martin Scott on Johnny Hayes, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Jack.

28:47

The ball is crossed by Gary Naysmith.

28:03

Foul by Johnny Hayes on Martin Scott, free kick awarded. Richard Brittain crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Jamie Langfield.

26:04

Johnny Hayes crosses the ball, Michael Fraser makes a save.

24:10

Stephen Hughes takes a shot. Save by Michael Fraser.

23:45

A cross is delivered by Johnny Hayes.

21:15

Free kick crossed right-footed by Richard Brittain from right wing, clearance by Russell Anderson.

21:15 Booking

Booking Ryan Jack goes into the book.

21:02

Paul Lawson fouled by Ryan Jack, the ref awards a free kick.

20:41

The ball is delivered by Stephen Hughes, clearance by Ross Tokely.

17:55

Marc Fitzpatrick sends in a cross, Jamie Langfield makes a save.

15:53

Marc Fitzpatrick gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Niall McGinn. Johnny Hayes crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing.

14:27

The ball is crossed by Gary Naysmith.

12:52

Martin Scott is caught offside. Jamie Langfield takes the indirect free kick.

10:51

Martin Scott has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

9:59

Unfair challenge on Russell Anderson by Colin McMenamin results in a free kick. Jamie Langfield restarts play with the free kick.

9:28

The ball is crossed by Johnny Hayes, save made by Michael Fraser.

8:17

The ball is swung over by Sam Morrow, Russell Anderson makes a clearance.

6:42

Short corner taken by Richard Brittain.

5:54

Niall McGinn produces a cross, clearance by Marc Fitzpatrick.

4:23

Johnny Hayes takes the inswinging corner, save by Michael Fraser.

3:58

Niall McGinn crosses the ball, Paul Lawson gets a block in.

2:49

Shot by Stephen Hughes from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

1:05

Paul Lawson produces a cross.

0:30

Andrew Considine concedes a free kick for a foul on Sam Morrow. Free kick taken by Iain Vigurs.

0:00

The match begins.

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