Pittodrie legend Andy Considine bade an emotional farewell to Aberdeen in his final appearance for the club.
Scotland international Considine was made captain for the day and led the Dons out against St Mirren in a 0-0 stalemate.
It was an emotional farewell for the 35-year-old, who received a guard of honour.
The entire near-15,000 crowd, including the St Mirren supporters, gave the defender a standing ovation prior to kick-off.
He also exited early in the second half to a standing ovation.
The centre-back was forced off injured early in the second half as he bade farewell to the Red Army.
Considine will depart after talks over a new deal broke down and the club withdrew the offer of a one-year extension.
The club great played in the Red of Aberdeen for the final time exactly 18 years to the day after his debut – against Dundee on May 14, 2004.
🎶 Ohhh Andy, Andy 👏🏽 #StandFree | @AndyConsie4 pic.twitter.com/KANagEzObI
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) May 15, 2022
Considine kept it rock solid at the back in his 571st, and final, appearance.
He was substituted in the 48th minute with the game 0-0 – having helped deliver a clean sheet.
This was the defender’s first start since suffering a serious knee injury in European action in August last year.
Considine sustained cruciate ligament damage in the 1-0 loss to Qarabag in Azerbaijan in the Europa Conference play-off first leg.
Having battled through a long rehabilitation in excess of six months, he regained full fitness.
However, Considine had been an unused substitute in the games since his return, bar a late injury-time introduction in the 1-0 loss at Hibs.
This was his time to say goodbye to the Aberdeen fans.
It was the Red Army’s opportunity to say thank you to the defender for his service.
Considine one of four changes
After the emotion of a guard of honour and standing ovation, it was down to the business of game action.
Considine’s first start since August was one of four changes to the starting line-up that lost 1-0 at St Johnstone.
Ross McCrorie returned having missed the trip to Perth due to concussion protocols.
Also returning were Marley Watkins from injury and Jonny Hayes.
Dropping to the bench were Declan Gallagher, Adam Montgomery, Funso-King Ojo and Michael Ruth.
Considine slotted in at left-sided centre-back in his Pittodrie curtain call.
Ferguson comes close early on
This game called time on a truly dismal season for Aberdeen.
You could feel the collective sigh of relief from suffering Aberdeen supporters at full-time when referee Don Robertson blew time on the campaign.
Aberdeen created the opening opportunity in the sixth minute when Lewis Ferguson curled a shot from the edge of the box.
Keeper Jak Alnwick dived to tip the effort wide of the far post for a corner.
Ferguson is Aberdeen’s top scorer this season on 16 goals and recently admitted he does not know if he will be at Pittodrie next season.
Italian side Cagliari have targeted the Scotland international, who is contracted until summer 2024.
In the 18th minute, Hayes burst into the left side of the penalty are, but fired wide of goal on the run.
St Mirren’s Jay Henderson hit a volley from outside the box wide soon after.
Aberdeen threatened again in the 32nd minute when Ferguson powered into the penalty area.
He shot across goal but the 15-yard effort flew wide of keeper Alnwick’s far post.
Aberdeen were threatening to break the deadlock and came close moments later.
Breaking down the right side,, Hayes played a short pass inside to Connor Barron who hit a low 22-yard strike on the run.
Keeper Alnwick dived low to tip the effort wide.
Aberdeen penalty award overruled
Aberdeen had a goal disallowed when Ross McCrorie fired beyond Alnwick from 12 yards out.
However, the effort was chalked off by referee Don Robertson who deemed Marley Watkins to have fouled in the box in the build up to McCrorie’s strike.
Aberdeen were then incensed on the stroke of half time when they were awarded a penalty for hand-ball – only for referee Robertson to overturn his decision.
David Bates met a cross to the back post and his header from close range looked to hit the hand of Scott Tanser.
Robertson awarded a spot-kick. However, following a discussion with assistant official Sean Carr, the decision was overruled for what appeared to be a foul by Bates.
The Reds were furious.
Half-time: Aberdeen 0 St Mirren 0
In the 47th minute, Considine fired a shot off target. It was to be his last act as an Aberdeen player.
The defender was substituted for Declan Gallagher in the 48th minute.
As he walked off the Pittodrie pitch for the final time as an Aberdeen player, the Red Army sang: ‘He’s one of our own, Andy Considine, he’s one of our own’.
A shot from Vicente Besuijen, after receiving a pass from Ferguson, was blocked in the 58th minute.
In the 61st minute, teenage striker Liam Harvey came on for his Pittodrie debut.
The 17-year-old, who made his debut in the 1-0 loss at St Johnstone, was introduced for Watkins.
In the 65th minute, Besuijen shot wide as the Reds pushed forward looking for an opener.
Lively substitute Harvey met a cross from Matty Kennedy in the 82nd minute, but his close-range header at the back post was saved by keeper Alnwick, who denied him a dream goal on his Pittodrie debut.
At full-time ,Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ played over the tannoy.
It allowed fans one final opportunity to sing ‘Sweet Considine… so good, so good.’
Full-time: Aberdeen 0 St Mirren 0
ABERDEEN (4-2-3-1): Lewis 6; MacKenzie 6, Bates 6, Considine 6 (Gallagher 48), McCrorie 7, Ferguson 6, Barron 6, Hayes 6 (Kennedy 79), Polvara 6 (Ojo 61), Besuijen 6, Watkins 6 (Harvey 61)
Subs: Woods (gk), Montgomery, McLennan, Ruth, Milne.
ST MIRREN (3-5-1-1): Alnwick 6; McCarthy 6, Power 6, Fraser 6, Tanser 6, Henderson 5 (Brophy 51), Erhahon 6, Gogic 6, Tait 5 (Millar 51) Kiltie 6, Greive 6 (Gilmartin 90)
Subs: Lyness (gk), Flynn, Thomson
Referee: Don Robertson 4
Man of the Match: Ross McCrorie (Aberdeen)
Attendance: 14, 906
