Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes his Reds did not do enough to go top of the Scottish Premiership last night after missing out on the chance to overhaul Celtic as league leaders.
Watching Celtic manager Ronny Deila was the happiest man at McDiarmid Park as he watched the Dons fall behind to Simon Lappin’s goal on the half-hour.
David Goodwillie headed against the crossbar for the Dons before Lee Croft struck the post for Saints early in the second half.
Adam Rooney, on the first anniversary of his move to Pittodrie, pulled the Dons level with a magnificent 20-yard strike for his 20th goal of the season.
Substitute Cammy Smith went close with a diving header late on as the Dons pushed for a winner but McInnes felt the Dons did not do enough to take all three points at Perth.
He said: “We came here to win but the performance wasn’t good enough.
“The players were well aware of the importance tonight but we have to credit St Johnstone. It was the same last week when we played Dundee. There is lot more expected of us and in years gone by a draw at McDiarmid Park would be a good result. But people expect more from us now.”
The Dons manager was unhappy with the start his side made to the game and, while he was happier with the second-half showing, he knows his Reds fell well below the standards they have set in a remarkable 10-game unbeaten run.
McInnes said: “I was disappointed with the start to the game as we were backed by a big crowd and knew we had a big opportunity to go top of the league but our start didn’t reflect that.
“It was two points dropped, but we did not play well enough to win the game. We were out of sorts, although we were better in the second half.
“We know it is a difficult place to come and win and the performance had to be better. The display was not to the level we hoped for but the players know that. I’m not disappointed to take 26 points out of 30, though.”