Aberdeen 1 - 1 Inverness CT

After a couple of weeks off, Aberdeen were looking to bounce back from defeat at Parkhead as they took on an Inverness side who looked to be up and running after a good win against St Johnstone.
The Dons welcomed Jonny Hayes back into the starting line-up following a month on the side-lines. He took the place of the suspended Mark Reynolds. James Maddison started on the bench following his recent loan move up from Norwich.

Aberdeen started the game strongly but the visitors had the first chance to open the scoring when they capitalised on a misplaced pass breaking forward. Billy King's ball into the box was lashed off the bar by Polworth's first time effort. A lot of passes were misplaced in that first half by both teams.

Aberdeen had their first chance to test Fon Williams when Hayes won a free kick midway in the Inverness half. His ball was aimed for Adam Rooney who couldn't quite shake his man, leaving the ball to float harmlessly out of play.

Hayes was given another chance to test the goalkeeper when Considine played a nice ball up the line for the Irishman to chase. Again, Rooney was waiting in the middle but Jonny's cross was deflected out for a corner. The ball was played short for Niall McGinn who managed to get the ball onto the head of Anthony O'Connor, who unfortunately couldn't get his effort on target.

Derek McInnes was forced into making a change 10 minutes before half time, when Graeme Shinnie failed to recover from an earlier knock. He tried to play on but was still visibly in pain. New boy Maddison came on in his place. Could the teenager bring the Dons to life?

The young man looked keen to get involved and was spreading around passes looking to bring players into the game. Shortly after his arrival he laid the ball off for Logan, but his dangerous cross couldn't find a red shirt.

The half ended scoreless, with the game so far lacking quality and chances.

HT ABERDEEN 0 - 0 INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE

The second half had barely started and the Caley Jags were threatening the Aberdeen goal. A pacey move forward allowed Ross Draper to try a shot on the half volley, and looked set to score had Anthony O'Connor not got a block in. The resulting corner was fizzed low across goal in heart stopping fashion.

The visitors started the half strongly when Greg Tansey lofted a free kick into the box which was high and troublesome. Joe Lewis came a long way out of his goal to take the ball, showing great confidence.
In a game that had lacked a certain spark, it was going to take something special to be the difference between the two teams.

Fortunately, Aberdeen have players that can change games in abundance. Today, it was Niall McGinn who drifted in from the left hand side after his trademark drop of the shoulder and tried his luck from 30 yards out. His shot could have gone down as a cross, but it had enough power and accuracy to totally fool Owain Fon Williams. (ABERDEEN 1 - 0 ICT)

All of a sudden Aberdeen looked a different team and Pittodrie was a different place. They'd found their stride and took confidence from McGinn's opener. A minute later a key moment in the game. Wes Burns used his blistering pace to cause havoc on the left hand side. He flew past Brad McKay and was in on goal. From a tight angle his shot went wide. Wes was unlucky not to get his second Dons goal but he maybe should have squared the ball for Adam Rooney.

A great chance wasted and in the end the it was to prove to be costly.

It was nearly a dream debut for James Maddison after 63 minutes, when Burns broke up the pitch and laid the ball off for him. Maddison brilliantly created room for an opening and went for placement, only for Fon Williams to tip the ball away with a great diving save to his right.

Maddison can be well pleased with his debut.

Then out of Inverness were level. Ian Vigurs showed real class from outside the box. Doumbouya initially used his strength to hold up the ball in the box, and when the ball dropped to Vigurs he chipped a wonderful shot right into the top left hand corner. (ABERDEEN 1 - 1 ICT)

With the game once again up for grabs it became very end to end.

The Dons continued to buzz around the penalty area looking for openings with Maddison heavily involved in everything. While Inverness were still dangerous, looking to create something on the break. Wes Burns came off for Peter Pawlett as the Dons continued to push for a winner. With 10 minutes to go Jayden Stockley replaced Jonny Hayes who had done well to last as long as he did after his injury layoff.

With full time fast approaching Aberdeen won a free kick, which McGinn crossed into the box. Adam Rooney was in line to head the ball home but couldn't quite connect with it. Although the offside flag went up.

Deep into added time Aberdeen had one final chance when the ball broke to Stockley inside the area but his shot was cleared off the line. In many ways it summing up the sort of afternoon it had been.