Aberdeen suffered a frustrating end to 2017 as Hearts escaped with a point in a goalless draw at Pittodrie.
The Dons dominated the game but could not find the goal they craved as the Jambos made it six games without conceding a goal.
The point gained means the Dons end the year in second place, eight points behind leaders Celtic.
Dons boss Derek McInnes made one change to the side which beat Partick Thistle 1-0 at Pittodrie in midweek with Kari Arnason returning to the starting line-up in place of Greg Stewart who dropped to the bench.
The home side created the first chance of the game in the 10th minute when Kenny McLean’s diagonal ball found Gary Mackay-Steven in the box. The Aberdeen winger’s shot was blocked into the path of Adam Rooney who saw his overhead kick saved by Jambos goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin at the second attempt.
The Dons dominated possession as they searched for an opener but they were almost caught when Hearts broke away through Esmael Goncalves. The forward squared the ball to winger David Milinkovic who found himself one-on-one with Joe Lewis but the Aberdeen goalkeeper blocked his effort.
Aberdeen continued to push for the opener with Kenny McLean’s cross into the box deflected into the path of Rooney but his eight yard shot was blocked by McLaughlin. From the resulting corner the ball was played to Shay Logan but his low drive from the edge of the box went just wide of the goalkeeper’s left post.
There was no breakthrough before the interval but Aberdeen continued where they left off in the second half with Rooney firing over the crossbar after the Hearts defence had failed to clear a Kari Arnason throw-in.
It was one-way traffic and substitute Greg Stewart saw his shot deflected for a corner and from the resulting delivery Scott McKenna’s header was saved on the line by McLaughlin.
Esmael Gonvalves missed a great chance when he scooped the ball over the crossbar for Hearts with 10 minutes remaining before Nicky Maynard and Scott Wright were sent on in the closing stages in the hope of breaking the deadlock.
With tensions simmering Hearts substitute Kyle Lafferty was shown a straight red card with two minutes remaining for a scything challenge on Dons skipper Graeme Shinnie but the visitors held on for a point.
