Aberdeen 1 Dundee United 1: Paton strike earns Pittodrie point

Dundee United kept themselves in the running for European football with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

The Tangerines’ result at the home of the Dons coincided with a dramatic late defeat for third-placed Motherwell at home to Kilmarnock so the fourth-placed Tannadice men now lie just three points behind the Steelmen.

United took the lead after only five minutes thanks to a terrific 20-yard strike from midfielder Paul Paton that squeezed in between diving Aberdeen keeper Jamie Langfield and his left-hand post.

In a hugely-entertaining first period the Tangerines nearly made it two through a John Rankin long-range shot then had a couple of penalty claims turned downfor challenges on Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven respectively.

Aberdeen hit the post with a Niall McGinn shot but went in a goal down at the break.

However, McGinn was on target just six minutes after the interval, heading home a Barry Robson cross to make it 1-1.

That was how it finished in a match that was played before a bumper 14,627 crowd and was a great advert for the Scottish game.