THIS performance dramatically increased the likelihood that Aberdeen were simply bidding 'au revoir' and not 'goodbye' to St Mirren as far as this season is concerned.
Even six points from their last two pre-split matches will not rescue a fourth
successive top-half finish under Jimmy Calderwood's stewardship if Falkirk defeat Kilmarnock at home this weekend.
That would mean being reacquainted with the likes of St Mirren and Gretna in the last few weeks of the campaign instead of playing a cameo role in shaping the destination of the title at the denouement of a season of wildly fluctuating fortunes.
Eliminating Dnipro, hammering FC Copenhagen and leading twice at home to Bayern Munich in the Uefa Cup in addition to reaching the semi-final of the CIS Insurance Cup and winning at Celtic Park last midweek to do likewise in the Scottish Cup have provided outstanding highlights for the Pittodrie club.
The contrast with their league form could not be more dramatic as this insipid draw makes it just one win in the last ten Premier League fixtures for an overall success rate of just under one victory for every three SPL matches.
Quite how they can oscillate between the giddy heights of a Parkhead victory and the sheer mundane nature of this draw is causing considerable consternation for Calderwood, who is spending today's Bank Holiday trawling England for talent.
The aim is to add a baker's dozen to the squad during the summer using the additional £3million brought in by Aberdeen's success in the knockout competitions, some of which will be used to reinstate the manager's ability to pay transfer fees for specific targets.
Calderwood said: "Depending on the outcome with the out-of-contract players, I could be looking for 13 new players next season as we need to strengthen every department.
"Money will be made available to me in the summer, including being able to buy players, but it's not a lot and quality costs serious cash nowadays."
Losing the likes of Lee Miller and Steve Lovell under freedom of contract, after the departures of Michael Hart and Chris Clark last January, will test Calderwood's ingenuity in the market, but replacing Barry Nicholson is particularly important if the team is not going to suffer long-term damage.
Poise was evident only in flashes in a match high on endeavour and most notably when St Mirren took the lead after ten minutes with a sublime piece of skill from Andy Dorman at the edge of the Aberdeen penalty area.
He flicked the ball over the head of Lee Mair then placed a well-executed left-foot volley into the bottom right-hand corner for his fourth goal since moving back to Britain from MLS side New England Revolution.
Mair's embarrassment was ameliorated by his first goal for Aberdeen just before the half-hour mark as the defender guided in a headed equaliser from Nicholson's precise corner.
An uneventful second half exploded with 13 minutes to go when St Mirren midfielder David Barron was sent off for his second bookable offence – throwing the ball away minutes after being cautioned for a foul on Lee Miller – although naivety rather than malice brought about the dismissal according to his manager.
Gus MacPherson said: "We can have no complaints with the second booking because there was no malice, but it was just daft from the boy. The important thing is he learns and overall we can be pleased with the point."
Meanwhile, St Mirren goalscorer Dorman is happy to graft for his side, but would far rather have been trying to add a second goal to his tally.
"I like to get forward and in training that's all I do," he said. "Obviously playing in midfield you have to be able to go both ways and be able to defend a bit too. But I definitely prefer the attacking side of it. Usually it means arriving late and you have a chance of being unmarked."
The full article contains 683 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
