Match ends, Aberdeen 0, Dundee United 0.
AberdeenAberdeen0Dundee UtdDundee United0
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes says he "expects more" in attack from his side after a second goalless draw in three matches against Dundee United.
The home side dominated possession and territory but again lacked fluency in the final third.
United went closest to scoring despite long periods without the ball as Lawrence Shankland's long-range effort cracked the bar before the break.
"We've got to try and bring a better 90-minute performance," McInnes said.
"You've got to ask the question of the opponents and make them the ones that unravel and maybe make mistakes.
"We lost that poise and experience in the second half and the game played out as a 0-0 draw."
The draw moves Aberdeen three points clear of Hibernian, who lost to Livingston, while United dropped to sixth after another solid defensive display but one that lacked any attacking punch.
The last meeting between the sides in October at Tannadice also finished goalless and the pattern of this game was almost identical.
Aberdeen, fresh after their midweek match with Livingston was postponed, dominated for long periods but with a now familiar lack of end product.
Ryan Hedges had two efforts flash past in the first half, as well as having a penalty claim waived away by referee Kevin Clancy after going down under a challenge from Mark Connolly.
After the interval, Tommie Hoban guided a back-post header wide and Curtis Main scooped over when played through.
Sam Cosgrove was brought on for Matty Kennedy in the final quarter in an attempt to spark something, but the Englishman was largely feeding off scraps.
United, meanwhile, have found a solid base that has allowed them to gain a firm foothold in mid table on their return to the top flight.
But, other than Shankland's fine individual effort off the bar, they created little of note.
The Scotland striker also cracked a volley that forced Joe Lewis into action, having earlier been denied by the Aberdeen goalkeeper after a defensive mix-up.
However, those were isolated flurries rather than the product of fluid attacking moves.
Ultimately, though, a point away against the league's third best side is not to be sniffed at, particularly given the improved second-half display.
Man of the match - Mark Reynolds
What did we learn?
Aberdeen have an attacking problem. The fluidity which followed the switch to the 3-4-3 formation earlier this season has given way to stunted forward play.
While there was a good tempo about Derek McInnes' side early on, it fell away drastically in the second half and they slumped to a second goalless draw in three games.
Main has neither the clever movement nor finishing prowess of Cosgrove, and will surely now find his run of starts at an end. And the lack of a central creator to knit the midfield and attack makes it easy for teams to funnel Aberdeen's attacks out wide.
If this season is all about top-flight consolidation for United, then this was another sign of a well-organised team making things difficult for one of the league's better sides.
They also lack creativity from midfield, though, and fans will surely expect more from their team going forward, particularly with a talent such as Shankland on their books.
What they said
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: "I thought Dundee United were better second half, but we lost control of the game in terms of showing our poise and experience. We needed more crosses, shots, and more responsibility to make good decisions."
Dundee United manager Micky Mellon: "We came here to win but Aberdeen are a terrific side and we respect that. All credit to the group, we were well worthy of a point and we had the better chances to win a hard fought game."
What's next?
Aberdeen host high-flying league leaders Rangers at Pittodrie on Sunday, 10 January (15:00 GMT), while United play St Johnstone the day before at Tannadice (15:00).
Player of the match
ConsidineAndrew Considine
with an average of 6.78
Aberdeen
Avg
- Squad number4Player nameConsidineAverage rating
6.78
- Squad number3Player nameHobanAverage rating
6.00
- Squad number11Player nameHedgesAverage rating
6.00
- Squad number1Player nameLewisAverage rating
5.96
- Squad number25Player nameWrightAverage rating
5.87
- Squad number19Player nameFergusonAverage rating
5.87
- Squad number40Player nameMcCrorieAverage rating
5.83
- Squad number14Player nameTaylorAverage rating
5.68
- Squad number17Player nameHayesAverage rating
5.65
- Squad number33Player nameKennedyAverage rating
5.59
- Squad number9Player nameMainAverage rating
5.58
- Squad number10Player nameMcGinnAverage rating
5.50
- Squad number16Player nameCosgroveAverage rating
4.77
- Squad number32Player nameEdmondsonAverage rating
4.73
- Squad number24Player nameCampbellAverage rating
4.67
Dundee United
Avg
- Squad number1Player nameSiegristAverage rating
6.25
- Squad number24Player nameShanklandAverage rating
6.02
- Squad number6Player nameReynoldsAverage rating
5.97
- Squad number2Player nameSmithAverage rating
5.92
- Squad number30Player nameNeilsonAverage rating
5.87
- Squad number5Player nameConnollyAverage rating
5.87
- Squad number17Player nameRobsonAverage rating
5.84
- Squad number27Player nameAppéréAverage rating
5.84
- Squad number10Player nameClarkAverage rating
5.78
- Squad number23Player nameHarkesAverage rating
5.71
- Squad number4Player namePowersAverage rating
5.57
- Squad number8Player namePawlettAverage rating
5.47
Line-ups
Aberdeen
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Lewis
- 3Hoban
- 14Taylor
- 4Considine
- 11Hedges
- 40McCrorieSubstituted forCampbellat 82'minutes
- 19Ferguson
- 17HayesBooked at 66mins
- 10McGinnSubstituted forWrightat 63'minutes
- 9MainSubstituted forEdmondsonat 83'minutes
- 33KennedySubstituted forCosgroveat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Logan
- 8Ojo
- 16Cosgrove
- 24Campbell
- 25Wright
- 32Edmondson
- 37Ngwenya
- 43Woods
- 46Duncan
Dundee Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Siegrist
- 30Neilson
- 5Connolly
- 6Reynolds
- 2Smith
- 10ClarkBooked at 41mins
- 23Harkes
- 8PawlettSubstituted forPowersat 51'minutes
- 17Robson
- 27AppéréBooked at 80mins
- 24Shankland
Substitutes
- 3Spörle
- 4Powers
- 7McMullan
- 19Mehmet
- 20Bolton
- 25Fotheringham
- 28Davidson
- 37Hutchinson
- 43Smith
- Referee:
- Kevin Clancy
Match Stats
Home TeamAberdeenAway TeamDundee Utd
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away1
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aberdeen 0, Dundee United 0.
Post update
Offside, Aberdeen. Ryan Hedges tries a through ball, but Ryan Edmondson is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jamie Robson (Dundee United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Ian Harkes.
Post update
Attempt missed. Mark Connolly (Dundee United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Nicky Clark with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Joe Lewis.
Post update
Attempt saved. Lawrence Shankland (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jamie Robson.
Post update
Foul by Dean Campbell (Aberdeen).
Post update
Louis Appéré (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lawrence Shankland (Dundee United).
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Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Tommie Hoban.
Post update
Hand ball by Sam Cosgrove (Aberdeen).
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Ryan Edmondson replaces Curtis Main.
Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Dean Campbell replaces Ross McCrorie.
Post update
Attempt missed. Sam Cosgrove (Aberdeen) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Scott Wright with a cross.
Booking
Louis Appéré (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Louis Appéré (Dundee United).
Post update
Foul by Andrew Considine (Aberdeen).
