St Johnstone fans hoped this would be the Stevie May show on his return to Pittodrie but instead Michael O’Halloran was the main man.
His equaliser just before half-time earned a precious point for Tommy Wright’s team that moved them off the foot of the Premiership table.
It could have been even better than 1-1 had a penalty “award” stood in the second half rather than be reversed by referee Steven McLean.
After a quiet start by the hosts, the Dons hit the woodwork on 17 minutes when Sam Cosgrove’s header crashed against the post.
Aberdeen did take the lead on 28 minutes and it was a fine finish from Ryan Hedges, who fired his angled drive under Saints keeper Zander Clark.
The Perth men were doing well, though, and they grabbed an equaliser two minutes before the break when O’Halloran’s low, deflected shot from just outside the box sneaked inside Joe Lewis’s right-hand post.
The 373 away supporters at Pittodrie were looking for more of the same from their side in the second half.
They threatened the Dons again on 51 minutes when Murray Davidson sent a header flying by the post.
Davidson had an even better chance three minutes later when he found space inside the box and his well-hit shot had to pushed away for a corner by Lewis. From the resultant setpiece, Liam Gordon nodded wide.
Matty Kennedy’s close-range header on 62 minutes had Lewis on his toes again before Saints were “awarded” a penalty then had it taken off them.
Kennedy went down in the box under a challenge from Andrew Considine. Referee McLean gave the spotkick but then walked over to standside assistant Graeme Stewart, who had a clear view of the incident.
A few words were exchanged before McLean reversed his own decision.
The visitors were more than a match for their hosts and the home fans worried as the second period reached its midway point.
There was a nice moment on 83 minutes when May was substituted by Callum Hendry and received a round of applause from the Aberdeen fans.
Saints keeper Clark pulled off a great save from Lewis Ferguson’s deflected freekick late on and, with Saints’ defence looking solid, they saw out the game to secure a very valuable draw.
