Aberdeen's Lewis Ferguson ignores fans abuse as Scott Brown goes off injured - but St Johnstone have a big fitness concern too in stalemate

Caretaker manager Barry Robson got what he asked for – eventually. He got fight and he got some character. He got, above all, balls, as represented by Lewis Ferguson.

The midfielder stepped up to score a hugely pressurised penalty with 20 minutes left to cancel out Callum Hendry’s early opener.

Things had been getting very serious indeed for Aberdeen. Skipper Scott Brown limped off just after the hour mark having just been moved to centre-back to permit a more attacking formation.

He was replaced in defence by Ferguson, who stepped back from midfield. Ferguson was enduring some booing from his own fans in the Merkland Family Stand each time he touched the ball after his reaction to fans’ abuse at Fir Park on Saturday. But he rose above it to score a priceless penalty to ensure Aberdeen did not suffer an unthinkable fourth successive defeat at the start of the post-Stephen Glass era. The loss of a goal after just six minutes had made this threat a very real one.

Robson restored young full backs Jack MacKenzie and Calvin Ramsay to the starting XI, a move that might have been expected from the Under-18s coach.

He also gave Connor Barron his first start in midfield. The 19-year-old was excellent.

Winger Vicente Besuijen added some spark when he replaced centre-half Declan Gallagher at half-time.

Robson did what he could. But these under-performing Aberdeen players clearly require something – or someone – else to pick them up. Sir Alex Ferguson is due back in town shortly. Perhaps he can be persuaded. He will be a guest at next weekend’s home game against Dundee United for the unveiling of his statue. While this point was welcome, Aberdeen, who remain winless this year, are far from out of the woods.

St Johnstone applied some