After a week to forget for Aberdeen, the Pittodrie side at least stopped the rot at Dundee United.

Ebbe Skovdahl's men suffered defeat at the hands of Celtic in the CIS Insurance Cup final last Sunday and were then crushed by Hearts in the league in midweek.

But Joaquim Ferraz's 27th-minute header denied the visitors the three vital points after Arild Stavrum's fourth-minute goal and the draw keeps the Dons rooted to the foot of the table, two points behind Kilmarnock.

United on the other hand were looking to step up their European dreams and also gain revenge over the Dons for three consecutive defeats in both the cups and the league.

United manager Paul Sturrock made five changes from the side that drew 2-2 at Kilmarnock ten days ago and they made the brighter start and should have gone in front in only the second minute.

Ferraz headed Jan Telesnikov's corner past Jim Leighton but Paul Bernard was on the line to chest it away and then former Aberdeen striker Jim Hamilton followed up but Leighton made a terrific fingertip save to deny him.

A minute later and Telesnikov shot wide after a mix-up in the Aberdeen goalmouth but they were soon punished as Aberdeen took the lead.

The recalled Eoin Jess played the ball through to Stavrum who timed his run to beat the offside trap and coolly slid the ball under Alan Combe.

The Norwegian should have doubled his and Aberdeen's tally three minutes later when David Lilley sent him through on goal again but he chose to square the ball instead of firing on target and the chance went begging.

Aberdeen were pressing for the second and Andy Dow should have done better in the box after Stavrum found him in acres of space with a fantastic crossfield ball but he dwelled too long to allow the home side time to clear.

But United were level in the 27th minute after a brilliant move when Craig Easton found Bernard Pascual down the left and his cross was emphatically headed past Leighton from five yards.

United defender Jason De Vos was lucky to escape in the 37th minute when he carelessly played the ball back without looking up and only Combe's alertness prevented Dow from embarrassing the Canadian defender.

Telesnikov then tried to test Leighton from just outside the area but the veteran goalkeeper dealt with it comfortably.

Leighton was again called into action moments later to make a great save to deny Hamilton from point-blank range.

Jess curled a free-kick over the bar two minutes after the restart after Maurice Malpas was adjudged to have fouled Stavrum.

Hamilton then squandered a great opportunity to put his side ahead in the 49th minute when he met Telesnikov's corner but his firm effort sailed over the bar.

The game lost its spark but Jess tried to liven up the proceedings in the 61st minute with a curling effort from 18 yards that Combe saved comfortably to his right. Venetis then had a free header in the 63rd minute when he got on the end of Telesnikov's cross but his well-wide effort summed up the second half.

Venetis somehow missed a glorious chance in the 68th minute after Thomas Solberg was booked for a foul on United substitute Steven Thompson.

From the resulting free-kick Telesnikov found Venetis but from just three feet the Greek swung his leg and missed the ball to give Aberdeen defender Russell Anderson the chance to clear the danger.

Ferraz came within inches of his second in the 77th minute when he headed De Vos' throw-in that bounced onto the crossbar and behind.

The visitors went in search of the winner and Jess fired wide from Robbie Winters' ball in the 87th minute and Stavrum did likewise a minute later.

At the other end Telesnikov blazed wide from the edge of the box in the final minute.

But a fourth consecutive victory over United was perhaps asking too much of Aberdeen to leave them anxiously looking at Kilmarnock ahead of them while Sturrock will be glad to see the back of the Pittodrie side.

Teams:

Dundee Utd: Combe, McQuillan, De Vos, Malpas, Pascual, Easton, Davidson, Venetis (Jenkinson 80), Telesnikov, Ferraz, Hamilton (Thompson 66).

Subs Not Used: Skoldmark, Gallagher, Partridge.

Booked: Combe.

Goals: Ferraz 26.

Aberdeen: Leighton, Lilley, Anderson, Solberg, McAllister, Guntveit, Mayer, Bernard, Jess (D. Young 87), Stavrum, Dow (Winters 69).

Subs Not Used: McGuire, Rutkiewicz, Preece.

Booked: Mayer, Solberg.

Goals: Stavrum 5.

Att: 6,723

Ref: John Rowbotham (Scotland).