Skipper Anthony Stewart returned to the side and helped the Dons post a fifth clean sheet of the league season, but it remained a disappointing afternoon as Ross County held Aberdeen to a 0-0 draw.

“It was a frustrating afternoon. I can’t fault anybody’s performance, the application and attitude was a lot different to Kilmarnock, there was a good reaction in that sense, but we weren’t clinical enough in front of goal and that’s why the game ended in a draw.

“There’s no hiding from the run that we’ve been on. We’ve been having a bad time but this is where you see the true character of the squad, where you see who really wants it. In that regard, I think it was a great reaction from the boys today. We got the first clean sheet for a while but we didn’t score the goals we wanted. At least it was a step in the right direction.

“I can understand the booing from the fans at the end, off the back of the run of results that we’re on. All we can do is work hard and put things right. We’re still fourth at the moment and in a position to go forward and do better and we want to do that for ourselves, for the club and for the fans.

“They support us home and away in good numbers, they make this a big club and there are high demands that go with that. It’s up to us to deal with the pressure and live up to expectations. I won’t hide from that and like the rest of the boys, I will look to come back stronger.”

Talking to the press after the game, Anthony also addressed the racist posting he received on social media after the St Mirren game.

“The posting that was aimed at me on social media after St Mirren, that’s the first time that has happened to me. I wouldn’t say it knocked me about, but it gave me a different view on things. The support from the club was excellent and as far as I’m concerned, it’s been dealt with and we move on from it.”