Falkirk and Aberdeen warmed up for next weekend's Scottish Cup clash with a goalless draw in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on an afternoon of controversy.

After the Bairns had dominated the first half without carving out the chances their build-up play deserved, the match was turned on its head when home midfielder Scott Arfield was red-carded.

The advantage of an extra man allowed Aberdeen to gain the upper hand late on and Jeffrey de Visscher saw his netbound header cleared off the line by Russell Latapy amid a frantic finish.

The draw was good enough to send the Dons into fourth spot in the SPL above Dundee United, but both sides will need an extra spark for their cup tie next Saturday.

The Bairns enjoyed possession from defence through midfield before Arfield's dismissal.

When they finally got in behind the Dons rearguard in the 40th minute, Michael Higdon was flagged for offside before finding the net.

The big striker then wasted the best chance of the match when he allowed Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield to touch his shot over with 10 minutes remaining.

The draw means Falkirk still have not beaten Aberdeen since November 1994.

The home side began the game showcasing their lauded passing game on a difficult surface but it was Aberdeen who fashioned the first opportunity in the fifth minute.

Higdon was guilty of weakly heading a long free-kick only as far as the edge of his own area but goalkeeper Robert Olejnik, standing in for the suspended Tim Krul, got his body behind Lee Mair's tame left-footed volley.

The Austrian shot-stopper showed his nerves and rustiness seconds later with a poor kick-out which Jamie Smith failed to make the most of.

And in the 16th minute Olejnik was involved in a mix-up with team-mate Tam Scobbie which almost let in the visitors.

Despite enjoying the bulk of possession, Falkirk were struggling to feed strikers Carl Finnigan, Higdon and Graham Barrett, and at times they were guilty of over-elaboration as they sought a way through.

Falkirk were almost made to pay for their profligacy twice in the closing moments of the first half when Scott Severin volleyed Barry Nicholson's free-kick just wide and Nicholson curled a free-kick into the sidenetting.

Encouraged by the way they finished the first half, Aberdeen began the second period in a positive fashion and denied Falkirk the possession they enjoyed before the interval.

A match that had been played in a fairly timid manner suddenly burst to life in the 53rd minute as Arfield was sent off.

The 19-year-old was unlucky to be booked for a first-half foul on Nicholson and, when referee Eddie Smith surprisingly decided to reach for his cards for a foul on Mair, the Scotland Under-21 player had to go.

Falkirk were driven on by a sense of injustice and Smith's decision brought out an unnecessary physical side to the encounter.

Amid a flurry of bookings, Falkirk thought they should have been awarded a penalty in the 63rd minute as stand-in skipper Darren Barr left his defensive beat and was felled by Scott Severin.

However, referee Smith ruled the offence took place inches outside the box and Tam Scobbie's swerving set-piece scraped the bar on its way over.

Aberdeen began to assert their authority and looked the more likely team to get a winner.

Falkirk full-back Jack Ross was forced to make a diving block to stop Jamie Smith's shot in an Aberdeen attack which ended with Olejnik clutching Byrne's curling effort to his chest.

Diamond then headed wide before the home side had the best chance of the match 10 minutes from time.

Barr broke brilliantly from defence and, after exchanging passes with Latapy, threaded a pass through to Higdon clear on goal but Langfield touched his early shot over.

Aberdeen substitute De Visscher then had a shot parried by Olejnik and Chris Clark drove the rebound wide before Latapy's deflected effort slipped past as both sides sought a winner in vain.

Teams:

Falkirk Olejnik, Ross, Holden, Scobbie, Barr, Cregg, Arfield, Riera, Finnigan (Latapy 57), Barrett (Milne 68),Higdon (Aafjes 90).

Subs Not Used: Barclay, Bradley, McBride, Mitchell.

Sent Off: Arfield (54).

Booked: Arfield.

Aberdeen Langfield, Foster, Byrne, Diamond, Mair (De Visscher 79), Severin, Nicholson, Young (Lovell 64),Clark, Miller (Jonathan Smith 86), Jamie Smith.

Subs Not Used: Soutar, Touzani, Daniel Smith, Aluko.

Booked: Mair, Jamie Smith, Clark, De Visscher.

Att: 5,457

Ref: E Smith (Scotland).