Partick Thistle 0 - 0 Aberdeen

The manager made two changes from last Saturday with Andrew Considine and Dominic Ball coming into the side for Arnason and Rooney. Heavy rain in the Glasgow area left the pitch extremely wet and it would certainly be a challenging day for both sets of players.

In the first minute a cross from Considine found May at the front post. The striker went to ground under a strong challenge and the Dons appealed for a penalty but referee Aitken waved play on. It was an open game in the early stages as both teams tried to adjust to the conditions.

In the ninth minute Dom Ball did well to win possession with a great tackle as Thistle threatened. The Dons then put a neat move together which resulted in a shot from Ball from distance but it never troubled Cerny.

A few minutes later former Don Miles Storey produced a good run from his own half before Considine managed to usher him to safety. Then in the 14th minute Sammon got himself one on one with McKenna but the centre half produced a perfectly timed sliding tackle. Thistle were coming more into the game and the movement of captain Chris Erskine was causing a bit of concern.

On 15 minutes McLean won the first corner of the game. McGinn and Christie worked a short one, McGinn then floated a ball to the back post which was punched away by Cerny but only to the feet of McLean who had found space at the back of the box. The Aberdeen midfielder had time and in the end curled a shot just past the far post. It was a decent opening; he looked in two minds as whether to go for goal or put in cross.

18 minutes in, Shinnie tried his luck from distance but his shot was off target.

After 22 minutes another good opening for Aberdeen when McGinn broke down the left. He cut the ball back to Christie but Ryan could not get a first time shot away and was then very quickly closed down and the chance was lost. Two minutes later at the other end Christie found himself the last man back after Thistle had cleared an Aberdeen free kick. He looked to have the situation under control but then Erskine felt he was impeded on the edge of the area as Ryan tried to see the ball back to his keeper.

On 27 minutes a promising break for the Dons but McLean?s first time ball was too strong for May.

By the half hour mark Aberdeen were slowly getting some control of the game with McLean becoming more of an influence. On 31 minutes McLean whipped in a fine cross from deep and May was not far away from getting his head on it. A minute later McLean ran all the way from his own half to the opposition box. With little else on he went for goal but Cerny was positioned at the near post to make the save. Then a minute after that a perfectly weighted pass from McLean inside the fullback set Christie free on the right. His cross found Shinnie who looked certain to score but Cerny managed to scramble across his line and make the save. The skipper then got on the end of the rebound but could not force it home. It was outstanding goalkeeping but Shinnie should have scored.

A McGinn cross then found May at the front of the area but his effort went past the post before a Dom Ball shot sneaked just past the far post.

Aberdeen were now well on top and looking dangerous in the final third but they needed to turn their superiority into a goal. For a twenty minute spell Woodman had not even touched the ball.

On 42 minutes more magic from Kenny McLean. His long ball was headed clear, but Kenny was the first one onto it. After driving forward he played a one two with Christie who produced a delightful flick into the path of McLean. The midfielder stroked a ball into the near post area for May but the ball went inches past the post. Although the officials gave a goal kick the defender might have got to the ball just ahead of the Aberdeen striker ? regardless it was another good opportunity and Aberdeen should have been ahead at the break.

HT. Partick Thistle 0 Aberdeen 0

Right at the start of the second half a slip by Kenny McLean allowed Thistle to work the ball to Steven Lawless and his shot had to be tipped round the near post by Woodman. Thistle?s first corner caused problems and May did really well to head the ball clear from under his own bar.

On 51 minutes Christie whipped in a dangerous free kick but the ball would not fall for a blue jersey. Then Aberdeen dispossessed Thistle midway inside their own half. The Dons had a four on four situation momentarily. Considine played it wide to Christie on the right who fed the ball back across the box for Shinnie who produced a turn and shot but the ball sailed just went over the bar.

On 55 minutes Considine?s dangerous cross troubled Cerny but no one in a blue shirt had made a run. Then Christie produced a fine bit of skill which allowed him to get a shot across Cerny but it just went agonisingly past the post. It was beginning to look like it was going to be one of those afternoons.

After 57 minutes Erskine was replaced by Edwards then Adam Rooney came on for Stevie May.

On the hour mark there was a bit of a flair up after some strong challenges in the middle of the park. Niall McGinn took a sore one but was thankfully able to continue. The pitch was by now becoming very difficult to play on as the rain continued and it was not suiting Aberdeen?s play as they could not get the ball forward quickly.

On 63 minutes Aberdeen looked to have a really promising break but the referee blew for a foul by McGinn. It was the wrong call and prevented the Dons exploiting a two on one situation with McGinn and Christie.

By now there was little quality on show as the game became a scrap in the mud.

With twenty minutes to go Gary Mackay-Steven replaced Dom Ball ? the holding midfielder had a good game and controlled the middle of the park ? before a McGinn corner found Considine but the ball would not come down quickly enough to allow the left back to get his shot away.

Aberdeen then had another promising break but Baily Cargill produced a great tackle on Christie. Credit to the home side, they defended resolutely in the second period.

With fifteen minutes to go McGinn won a free kick 20 yards out. McGinn and McLean were over the ball, Kenny took it and although he got the ball up and over the wall it would not come down quickly enough and Cerny was able to watch it go over his bar.

The game was now really open as both teams went for the winner. Shinnie had a shot blocked on the edge of the area and then at the other end O?Connor produced a really good block on Edwards.

With eight minutes to go Greg Stewart replaced Niall McGinn.

Christie Elliott, who was the BBC Alba man of the match, was the first and only player to be booked after GMS had beat him all ends up.

Aberdeen were pushing hard for a winner. With three minutes to go a GMS cross was just a fraction behind Rooney.

Then Thistle almost won it when an Edwards shot appeared to be going in but Woodman made a great save. The keeper hardly had a stop to make the whole game but did really well to make sure Aberdeen left with a point. It could have been all three points as with the last touch of the ball Greg Stewart stood a ball up to the back post but Logan?s acrobatic effort saw the defender fail to connect with the ball and then the whistle went. Aberdeen deserved more from this game but needed to take their chances when they were well on top in the first half.

FT. Partick Thistle 0 Aberdeen 0