Aberdeen were left frustrated after being held to a goal-less draw by Dundee United at Tannadice.
The Dons dominated proceedings but could find no way past United goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist.
They were almost made to pay for their profligacy in the closing stages but goalkeeper Joe Lewis produced a fine stop to thwart Logan Chalmers.
The Dons made one change from the side that defeated St Mirren before the international break with Connor McLennan drafted in for Northern Ireland international Niall McGinn with 17-year-olds Kieran Ngwenya and Calvin Ramsay named on the bench.
Dundee United’s talisman Lawrence Shankland returned for the Tangerines after missing the previous week’s 1-0 defeat by Peterhead and the 1-0 midweek win against Kelty Hearts.
Aberdeen started brightly with Jonny Hayes’ low drive pushed away by United stopper Siegrist with only two minutes on the clock.
Scott Wright went even closer soon after when he linked up with Ryan Hedges only for his shot to be hacked off the line by United defender Mark Connolly.
Ash Taylor nodded wide from the resulting corner and Hedges had another low drive palmed away as the visitors upped the ante.
McLennan felt he should have had a penalty after falling to the ground following a Mark Reynolds challenge after 17 minutes before an even stronger appeal was turned down when Shankland appeared to handle the ball inside a packed penalty area.
Another fine chance went begging soon after when Wright capitalised on some sloppy play by the Tangerines to set up Hayes but he dragged his effort wide.
United brought on Scotland striker Marc McNulty for his debut 11 minutes into the second period with Nicky Clark making way.
The Dons waited until the 62nd minute to make their first alteration with Wright making way for on-loan Leeds United attacker Ryan Edmondson.
But it was another substitute who almost made an immediate impact with Niall McGinn drawing a smart save from Siegrist from a well-struck free kick, his first touch after replacing McLennan.
Aberdeen were almost caught on the counter with a superb McNulty pass setting up Logan Chalmers but Joe Lewis came to the Dons’ rescue with an excellent stop.