Ten-man Aberdeen hung on courageously to claim an opening-day point at East End Park and deny Dunfermline a winning return to the Scottish Premier League.

The visitors' manager Ebbe Skovdahl has been hit by an injury crisis during the pre-season which has left his squad down to the bare bones.

His very young and inexperienced side was put under extra pressure just minutes before the half-time break when Derek Young saw red for kicking out at Dunfermline defender Jason Dair.

The home side - with new signings Marco Ruitenbeek, Andrius Skerla, Junior Mendes and Stephen Crawford all included - threw everything forward. But the Pars' poor finishing, stout defending and good goalkeeping saved the Dons.

Dunfermline could have made the dream start as early as the fourth minute when Justin Skinner found Crawford in the centre. But Thomas Solberg made a block challenge, and Ryan Esson saved the follow-up effort.

Aberdeen were regularly let off the hook as Dunfermline continued to spurn glorious chances to take the lead.

Junior Mendes and Stewart Petrie both missed fantastic opportunities inside the box with the Aberdeen defence all at sea.

Aberdeen's problems worsened moments later when Solberg hobbled off to be replaced by young defender Phillip McGuire.

The visitors continued to struggle to make an impression on the game, while Dunfermline continued to pile on the pressure with Mendes and Crawford causing most of the problems.

But Aberdeen almost made a shock breakthrough in the 23rd minute when Young sliced open the home defence and played a dangerous ball into Arild Stavrum only for Michel Doesburg to make a saving tackle.

The home side, however, looked most likely to score - and on the half hour Crawford was again guilty of wasting a chance.

Scott Thomson hit a long ball over the top of the Aberdeen defence and the former Hibernian star blazed high over the bar with just Esson to beat.

Dunfermline again went close in the 33rd minute when Mendes found Eddie May, whose left-footed effort sailed over.

But Aberdeen refused to lie down and three minutes later they broke upfield with Stavrum, who over-elaborated on the edge of the area to give Skerla time to make a block.

Aberdeen found themselves in big trouble with three minutes of the first half remaining when Young was ordered off.

The youngster petulantly kicked out at Dair, and referee Stuart Dougal wasted no time in brandishing a straight red card.

It could have got even worse for the visitors in the last few moments of the half when Mendes found himself in acres of room, six yards out - but he directed his effort straight at Esson.

Dunfermline could smell victory after the rush of blood from Young and at the interval they threw on striker Owen Coyle for May - and they should have been a goal up within a minute.

Petrie found Thomson down the left, and he cut the ball back for Crawford who sliced his shot wide with Esson desperately scurrying back across goal.

Ian Ferguson was shown the yellow card for a foul on Robbie Winters, but the pressure was relentless - and three minutes later Thomson fired a free-kick just over the bar.

Aberdeen looked to cause problems of their own with the introduction of Moroccan star Hicham Zerouali for Stavrum in the 59th minute, but it was the home side who continued to press.

Dunfermline's finishing once again let them down in the 61st minute when Mendes found Crawford unmarked in the area, but his header sailed into the arms of the grateful Esson.

The hosts were leaving space at the back as they went in search of the winner and they breathed a sigh of relief when Darren Young's effort was deflected into the arms of Ruitenbeek.

Aberdeen were making a fight of it, and in the 81st minute Winters fired Zerouali's centre just over the home side's bar.

A minute later Esson produced a great save to deny Dunfermline when he pushed Coyle's fierce drive over his crossbar - and moments later he saved bravely at the feet of Crawford.

Young could have become Aberdeen's hero in the last minute with an effort which flew just wide, and Dunfermline went close when Esson got a touch to Doesburg's cross and Mendes fired into the side-netting.