Leigh Hinds answered Aberdeen manager Steve Paterson's call for more goals but still couldn't fire the Dons closer to the Bank of Scotland Premier League top six.

The former Clyde man's 61st-minute strike cancelled out Mark Fotheringham's spectacular first-half opener.

But Aberdeen, who dominated for long spells, were left to rue a series of missed opportunities.

With a place in the top half of the table at stake, both sides signalled their early intentions on goal in a frantic, if scrappy, opening five minutes.

Dundee had clearly pinpointed Aberdeen's full-backs as their weakness and looked to exploit them by pinging balls in behind for Nacho Novo to chase.

However, it was Novo's more direct approach which led to the opening goal, scored by Fotheringham, in the eighth minute.

The ex-Celtic man stepped up to take a free-kick after both Alexander Diamond and Phil McGuire barged into the Spaniard as he tried to cut into the penalty box.

And Fotheringham sent a stunning, curling set-piece past David Preece into the top corner.

But long-range efforts seemed to be the order of the day, as Aberdeen themselves had a decent opportunity to score, from a free-kick awarded after Lee Mair felled David Zdrilic.

The Australian picked himself up to take the kick, but blazed his effort over the bar.

Aberdeen went close again through Hinds, who shot just inches past from the edge of the box after picking up a loose ball.

The visitors continued to pile forward and were extremely unfortunate not to go in at the break on level terms after Zdrilic superbly spun inside the area and beat Speroni at his far post.

The ball looked to be heading for the net, but hit the inside of the upright and, instead of creeping over the goal-line, bounced back out and away to safety.

Then, on the stroke of half-time, Zdrilic saw his shot cleared off the line by Dave Mackay after Diamond headed the ball into his path from a corner.

Aberdeen's wastefulness in front of goal had started to frustrate their travelling support and they made their feelings known on the hour when Zdrilic shot over from 18 yards despite having plenty time on the ball.

However, the jeers turned to cheers a minute later when, their luck in front of goal took a turn for the better.

Speroni initially appeared to have made a good block from Clark, but lay helpless on the floor as the ball rolled back into the midfielder's path.

The youngster gratefully accepted this gift, looked up and fed Hinds, who was standing unmarked and in the perfect position to slam home the equaliser.

Aberdeen were dealt a serious blow in the 75th minute when McGuire pulled up injured after a tackle with Novo and limped out to be replaced by Michael Hart.

Paterson tried to chase the game by making a couple of switches to his front line.

Bryan Prunty came on in place of Zdrilic and was then joined, in the 83rd minute, by youngster John Stewart, who replaced Scott Muirhead.

However, it was Dundee who had the final chance to sneak three points right at the end, but Preece pulled off a great stop after Novo had danced past Hart inside the box.

Teams

Dundee Speroni, Mackay, Sancho, Mair, Hernandez Santos (Cameron 73), Barrett, Fotheringham, Brady (Linn 66), Robb, Novo, Milne.

Subs Not Used: Soutar, Kneissl, Jablonski.

Goals: Fotheringham 8.

Aberdeen Preece, McNaughton, Diamond, McGuire (Hart 76), Morrison, Clark, Heikkinen, Muirhead (Stewart 83), Sheerin, Hinds, Zdrilic (Prunty 72).

Subs Not Used: Esson, Foster.

Booked: McGuire.

Goals: Hinds 61.

Att: 6,839

Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).