I'm not sure what US-based football supporters would have made of that opening 45 minutes at Dens Park.

Crunching tackles and willing endeavour in great supply but skill and ruthlessness in the final third less so.

Hope springs eternal for a better second half, with a few goals to boot, to prevent any dozing off on the couch...

Image source, SNS

Dundee's Shaun Byrne is the latest player to be booked, as he crunches into Jonny Hayes, sending the Irishman flying.

Referee Colin Steven is on the scene immediately to brandish they yellow card and restore calm.

The hosts force a couple of corners in quick succession but they can't get an effort on target. Groans from the home fans inside Dens Park.

Perhaps still bristling after ballooning a promising opportunity over the bar, Dundee captain Charlie Adam finds his name in referee Colin Steven's black book for an over-zealous tackle.

Both managers patrol their respective technical areas, anxiously roaring tactical instructions to their players.

Will either side break the deadlock before half time?

Dundee striker Leigh Griffiths, who did well to clear a Christian Ramirez's goalbound header moments earlier, turns provider as he tees up skipper Charlie Adam.

But the veteran skipper sends his shot high into the stand behind the goal.

The Dons have been thwarted on more than one occasion by some impressive Dundee defending.

The hosts are closing down and snapping at Aberdeen heels as they repel a growing number of attacks.

Aberdeen are warming to the task here. Firstly, Christian Ramirez sees his header cleared by an alert Leigh Griffiths before Jonny Hayes sends a shot whistling inches wide from just outside the box.

Dundee skipper Charlie Adam powers forward and into the box but a sea of red jerseys ensure he doesn't get a shot away.

Hibernian manager Jack Ross tells BBC Scotland: "We deserved what we got. We were nowhere near the levels we have been at and need to be at to win games. We were lazy, slow, selfish in a lot of our play. We were desperately poor and that isn't acceptable.

"It's a short sharp reminder to all of us. I'm really angry about it but I've got to gather myself and see why we produced that performance and make sure we don't replicate it."

Paul McMullan pounces on the ball after Aberdeen cough up possession in midfield but, as the Dons defence steps off him, McMullan drags his shot well wide of goal.

What the opening 20 minutes has lacked in terms of skill or creativity, it's made up for in endeavour from both sides.

You get the feeling that it will need to be a piece of brilliance to separate these two struggling sides.

Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

Ryan Hedges meets an Aberdeen corner after Dundee clear their lines but his effort fails to find the net.

Rory Loy
Former Rangers & Dunfermline forward

It's been a frenetic opening 15 minutes at Dens Park with the hosts looking the more menacing in attack.

Rory Loy
Former Rangers & Dunfermline forward

Jack MacKenzie collects a clever pass from Jonny Hayes, slaloming into the Dundee penalty area but his shot is comfortably saved by Adam Legzdins.

Ouch!published at 7 mins

7 mins

Dundee 0-0 Aberdeen

Jordan McGhee crunches into a tackle... and Aberdeen midfielder Scott Brown.

Referee Colin Steven contents himself with a word of warning as he keeps his yellow card in his pocket.

Luke McCowan is at the centre of everything for Dundee as the hosts look to capitalise on their bright start.

Following great play down the right, the ball is fed into the box but there are no takers in dark blue.

A let-off for the Dons...