ABERDEEN did themselves and Scottish football proud and have given themselves a fighting chance in this tie by drawing with last season’s seventh best team in the English Premier League.

Burnley’s late away goal got them a draw, which their second-half play deserved, but this was still a shot in the arm for our game.

Perhaps we should be big enough to ignore the ignorant critics from down south and rise above the constant putting down of Scottish football. with dignity. Ach, but it so enjoyable to watch one of ourr teams show our neighbours that maybe we are doing okay.

It was fitting that on the day Aberdeen’s most iconic figure, Sir Alex Ferguson, made his first public appearance since suffering a brain haemorrhage that Pittodrie rocked like the good old days.

The ground was full more or less, helped by a large and boisterous contingent from down south, and the atmosphere was the best it has been in quite some time.

Aberdeen's 3-5-1-1 formation worked well and will get better. Derek McInnes knows he needs more, and a striker is his priority, but there are making of a better team than last season’s runners-up. What the Aberdeen manager would give for a fraction of what Sean Dyche has to play with at Burnley.

Dyche’s side will be favourites but next week’s second leg at Turf Moor is far from a done deal. Don't rule out something strange happening.

The men in red were thoroughly professional from the off.

Aberdeen first threatened after seven minutes when Niall McGinn sent a low ball into the six-yard box which nobody picked out or reacted to. It was early days but the thought occurred that such chances would not come around so often.

Burnley were forced into an early change when goalkeeper Nick Pope seemed to overstretch after being challenged, fairly but it was given for a foul, by Sam Cosgrove. Poor Pope was in some pain as he was helped from the action. Anders Lindegaard replaced him.

He found himself facing a penalty while he was still shaking the dust of his gloves.

Gary Mackay-Steven did well to control and then get the ball to Shay Logan on the right wing. His cross was aimed for Cosgrove who while going for a header took a dull one in the face from the arm of James Tarkowski.

The German referee Daniel Sibert pointed to the spot, it was the right call, and Mackay-Steven with extreme calmness send Lindegaard the wrong way.

That was on 18 minutes and midway through the half, Graeme Shinnie robbed Ashley Westwood, drove towards the Burnley box and should have passed to Cosgrove, the striker would probably have had room for a shot, but tried to beat Lindegaard with his weaker right foot which was the wrong choice.

At this stage, Aberdeen were comfortable. Their shape was good and without being brilliant played some good stuff.

Burnley’s Matthew Lowton was booked for bringing down Lewis Ferguson as the teenager was about to break free in midfield.

Ferguson, son of Derek and nephew of Barry, is a player. Still only 18, the midfielder had a good night.

Burnley had plenty of possession in the first-half and at times played good football themselves. But their crossing was poor.

Aberdeen were lively after the break when two crosses, one missed by Cosgrove the other by everyone, was an encouraging start to the half but then Burnley had two chances on 50 minutes to score.

A cross from Johann Gudmundsson was met by Jack Cork who must have thought his diving header was in, only for Joe Lewis to somehow keep out the ball. Aberdeen didn’t clear their lines, Aaron Lennon got the ball and his effort was palmed away by Lewis.

Minutes later and Mackay-Steven pace took him clear on the right wing and had he lifted this head would have seen that McGinn had made a great run through the middle which no Burnley player matched.

Alas, the winger delayed his pass but did get the ball to Cosgrove whose shot was straight at Lindegaard.

Logan was yellow carded on 55 minutes for a late and slightly high challenge on Chris Wood. Had the Aberdeen right-back been sent off, he wouldn’t have had much to complain about.

The home side came seriously close to a second on 64 minutes. McGinn sent a cross over from the left, Cosgrove headed the ball back from the back post and Mackay-Steven of all people did well to meet the ball and his header was superbly saved by Lindegaard.

But for all Burnley weren’t great, they always had a goal in them and their equaliser came with ten minutes to go.

McInnes will have something to say about the defending but credit must go to Burnley substitute Sam Vokes who managed to, with his back to goal, hold off Scott McKenna and Tommie Hoban, turn and send the ball high into the net from ten yards.

The English had earned their goal, they finished far stronger, and a 1-1 was about right. Aberdeen matched their opponents which is all their supporters could have asked. Fergie must have been proud.