Fragile confidence and a lack of quality made for yet another frustrating night for Aberdeen as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee at Pittodrie.
A draw was not enough to soothe the growing frustration among the Dons fans as they watched their side drop points on their return to the Granite City for their first home match of 2024.
It is fair to say there was an air of trepidation as the Dons took to the field against the Dark Blues.
By the time the players left it had been replaced by yet more howls of derision and calls for the manager to be dismissed.
Aberdeen’s belief is slowly ebbing away and with it is the patience of the support.
Aberdeen fans were as nervous as the players
The confidence built on the back of wins against Ross County and Clyde in 2024 had been dented by one point in the two league games since the winter break.
Dissenting voices on social media in the manager’s direction, and the loss of key players to injury added to a growing number of concerns around Pittodrie.
With both sides having chances in the opening 30 minutes it was evident the atmosphere inside the stadium would be shaped by which team scored first.
When Dundee attackers Amadou Bakayoko and Zach Robinson peppered Kelle Roos’ goal with shots there were howls of frustration.
The same reaction was reserved if the home goalkeeper was deemed not to have started an attack quickly enough either.
Naturally, the opposite was true when Bojan Miovski or Graeme Shinnie had chances.
Situations like this test even the strongest of characters but in their number nine the Dons had their own man of steel.
To no surprise it was Miovski who got the home crowd firmly behind their side just after the 30 minute mark as he converted a penalty – awarded for a foul on Ester Sokler by Dundee captain Joe Shaughnessy – for his 18th goal of the season.
At this point there are few superlatives left for the Dons striker as he matched his tally of last season.
The 11.30pm transfer deadline on Thursday night cannot come quickly enough when it comes to the North Macedonian international that’s for sure.
A feisty first half brought three yellow cards and a VAR check for a possible red card for Leighton Clarkson following a challenge on Dundee’s Lyall Cameron.
The hush in the stadium was palpable but to the midfielder’s relief, and the home support too, no further action was taken as the Dons reached the break a goal to the good.
Aberdeen belief waned following Dundee’s equaliser
That eerie quiet among the home fan returned in 55th minute, however, as Dundee got themselves back on level terms courtesy of Lee Aschroft’s header.
The drummer and his band of singers in the Red Shed were stunned into silence momentarily as the sizeable Dark Blues traveling support erupted in jubilation.
The Dundee support taunted Robson with chants he would be sacked in the morning following their equaliser.
As the clock ticked down the tension inside Pittodrie built.
Robson tried everything he had in reserve, sending on Ryan Duncan, Pape Gueye and debutant Killian Phillips in the hope of finding a winner.
But there was precious little to get the fans off their seats with the majority of the game following the equaliser played in an eerie silence.
Until the full-time whistle blew. At that point it was abundantly clear how they felt.
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