Dundee ran Aberdeen close at Pittodrie, recovering from a ropey start to force the Dons to work for this win.
It will be the men in red whose name will go into the hat for the Scottish Communities League Cup third round draw but the Dark Blues can still take heart from what was, eventually, an encouraging performance.
The home side looked a class act in the opening stages and took a deserved lead through Darren Mackie on 16 minutes and they looked likely to go on and claim a comfortable victory.
But Barry Smith’s players dug in and pushed and pushed for an equaliser, only to be denied.
Later, Harry MacLean quit as a Dundee director, resigning from the board, but will be remaining as the club’s chief executive.
“I have decided to step off the board but will be staying as chief executive,” said MacLean.
“The club is on a sound footing and I believe the guys who are there can take the club forward.”
Of the game, Barry Smith said: “We are disappointed at getting beat but not disappointed at the manner in which we got beat.
“We gave a very good account of ourselves against a Premier League team.
“Early on it was a case of bedding in because the players were up against boys who are sharper week in, week out.
“Hopefully, we can take the good things especially from the second half into Saturday’s game against Morton.”
Dons boss Craig Brown saw similarities between this display and the one against Inverness Caley Thistle in the SPL.
“Like on Saturday, it was good at the beginning then a bit indifferent thereafter,” he said. “But to be too critical of Aberdeen would be to be disrespectful to Dundee, who are a good First Division side.”
The Dark Blues made one change to the side that started against Livingston at the weekend, with Jamie McCluskey dropping down to the bench and Ryan Conroy getting his chance.
The Dons handed a debut to new Welsh keeper Jason Brown but the signing from Greek club Panionios, French-Algerian frontman Mohamed Chalali, was listed as a substitute after a long trip to Scotland that day.
Aberdeen were the first to threaten when a Fraser Fyvie corner was headed over by Kari Arnason.
The Dens men were on the back foot again on 12 minutes when Mackie broke up the right before curling a fine effort past keeper Rab Douglas’ far post. And it was no surprise when the Dons scored on 16 minutes.
A pinpoint pass out to the left from Fyvie found Peter Pawlett, who skinned defender Gary Irvine before feeding the ball on to Chris Clark.
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He then picked out Mackie, who had his back to goal, but spun brilliantly before firing into the roof of the Dundee net.
The impressive Fyvie then brought a great stop out of Douglas with a 20-yarder that stung the big man’s hands.
Backed by a decent-sized support, the Dark Blues’ first attempt on goal came on 25 minutes, with Nicky Riley’s low shot being deflected away for a corner that came to nothing.
The Dens men gradually grew in to the game and they carved Aberdeen open up the right three minutes before the break, with Conroy’s cross met first time by Stephen O’Donnell’s boot but was stopped by Brown.
There was still time for a Josh Magennis header to fly over the Dundee bar before referee John McKendrick blew the half-time whistle.
The Dons had to rejig things at the back on 48 minutes when Arnason limped off to be replaced by Youl Mawene, then they lost Clark to an apparent hamstring injury on 58 minutes, giving Chalali his opportunity.
There were hopeful shouts for a penalty from the home supporters on 63 minutes when Mackie went down in the box but he didn’t seem to get fouled.
Aberdeen had a “goal” chalked off a minute later when Pawlett’s shot was pushed on to the post by Douglas, then the rebound tapped in by the offside Richard Foster.
Dundee brought on Jake Hyde for Graham Bayne on 70 minutes as Smith freshened up his frontline.
On 77 minutes, a slip by Dundee defender Rhys Weston gifted Chalali a clear run on goal but he never really got the ball under proper control and the chance was lost.
The visitors were seeing a lot more of the ball and forcing the Dons back.
Dundee frontman Milne was booked for a foul on keeper Brown before a good pass from Nicky Riley found Milne in front of goal but, sadly for the visitors, the flag went up for offside.
Brown maybe deserved a bit of luck after producing excellent stops to keep out drives from Milne and O’Donnell and it was him and his mates who were smiling at full-time.
He then picked out Mackie, who had his back to goal, but spun brilliantly before firing into the roof of the Dundee net.
The impressive Fyvie then brought a great stop out of Douglas with a 20-yarder that stung the big man’s hands.
Backed by a decent-sized support, the Dark Blues’ first attempt on goal came on 25 minutes, with Nicky Riley’s low shot being deflected away for a corner that came to nothing.
The Dens men gradually grew in to the game and they carved Aberdeen open up the right three minutes before the break, with Conroy’s cross met first time by Stephen O’Donnell’s boot but was stopped by Brown.
There was still time for a Josh Magennis header to fly over the Dundee bar before referee John McKendrick blew the half-time whistle.
The Dons had to rejig things at the back on 48 minutes when Arnason limped off to be replaced by Youl Mawene, then they lost Clark to an apparent hamstring injury on 58 minutes, giving Chalali his opportunity.
There were hopeful shouts for a penalty from the home supporters on 63 minutes when Mackie went down in the box but he didn’t seem to get fouled.
Aberdeen had a “goal” chalked off a minute later when Pawlett’s shot was pushed on to the post by Douglas, then the rebound tapped in by the offside Richard Foster.
Dundee brought on Jake Hyde for Graham Bayne on 70 minutes as Smith freshened up his frontline.
On 77 minutes, a slip by Dundee defender Rhys Weston gifted Chalali a clear run on goal but he never really got the ball under proper control and the chance was lost.
The visitors were seeing a lot more of the ball and forcing the Dons back.
Dundee frontman Milne was booked for a foul on keeper Brown before a good pass from Nicky Riley found Milne in front of goal but, sadly for the visitors, the flag went up for offside.
Brown maybe deserved a bit of luck after producing excellent stops to keep out drives from Milne and O’Donnell and it was him and his mates who were smiling at full-time.