Dundee moved a point closer to the top six as they fought back to dent Aberdeen’s title bid in the day’s early kick-off at Dens Park.
With Celtic not playing until later in the afternoon, the Dons could have stolen a march on the league leaders with a victory and it looked as though Adam Rooney’s 36th minute strike would be enough to earn them three points.
But the Dark Blues, playing their first competitive game in three weeks, have their own top half aspirations to worry about and battled back to secure a draw thanks to Stephen McGinn’s equaliser midway through the second half.
After a confident start by the Dons, Dundee began to look the likelier to score in the first half with Paul McGowan and McGinn going close.
However, the visitors seized the initiative nine minutes before the break as good build-up play from Andrew Driver set up Rooney to score from inside the area.
The Dons also had a major penalty shout just before the interval when Niall McGinn’s shot appeared to strike Willie Dyer’s hand in the box, but referee Craig Thomson waved away the claims.
A superb diving save by Scott Bain from a Rooney header early in the second half kept Dundee in the game, and David Clarkson came within inches of an equaliser just before the hour mark.
However, they did eventually draw level in 69 minutes after Ryan Jack’s horrendous decision to keep the ball in play near the touchline.
His back heel merely laid off Alex Harris on the left wing and his cross was turned home by Stephen McGinn at the near post.