Heart of Midlothian dropped points for just the third time this season after drawing 1-1 with Dundee United at Tynecastle Park.
With Celtic winning at home to Kilmarnock, the deficit at the top has been cut to seven points going into the international break.
Hearts had gone in front through an own goal when Alexandros Kyziridis' effort hit the base of the post and went in off United keeper Yevhenii Kucherenko.
United hit back right before half-time, Luca Stephenson heading home unmarked at the back post from a corner.
Hearts are back in action after the break at Pittodrie, a venue they haven't won at since 2016.
Share of the spoils
Hearts have been very good at pushing right to the end. That is shown by their league-leading six goals from the 76th minute onwards. They pushed, they huffed and they puffed against United but couldn't find the winner as they have done so often this campaign.
It is not the result that Hearts wanted going into the international break, but equally, they remain unbeaten.
Hearts were far from their best this season and that was reflected in the chances and shots they did have. They didn't make the most of the dangerous positions they got and it was perhaps best summed up deep into stoppage time when Alexandros Kyziridis drifted down the left but his cross went straight to the goalkeeper.
They simply didn't test Kucherenko as much as they would have liked, while a swathe of crosses didn't find their target.
It was untidy at times and United had the ball in the net on three other occasions only to be ruled offside.
In the end, it is hard to argue that a point wasn't fair against a good United team.
Half-time changes
Hearts were far from their free-flowing best in the opening 45 minutes and it wasn't surprising to see two substitutions made at the break. There were moments, but overall there it didn’t quite click.
Stephen Kingsley and Michael Steinwender were brought on for Oisin McEntee and Kabore as McInnes reverted to something closer to the side that started six consecutive matches until recently. That meant Harry Milne back on the right of midfield.
That was after a 4-2-3-1 that was used in the first half. Initially, Lawrence Shankland led the line with the other three forwards behind him. By the end of the half, the Hearts boss had switched the front four around in various combinations in an attempt to exert concerted pressure on Dundee United.
Claudio Braga started in the No.10 role before going out to the left midway through the half and then finished it on the right. For the second half, the Portuguese was positioned through the middle in a front two with Shankland.
United had carried a threat down Hearts’ left in the first half and the half-time changes helped to stem that. Stephenson, who equalised for United, threatened a number of times but was much quieter after the break.
However, the magic in attack that has seen Hearts score 29 league goals now. More positive changes were made: Sabah Kerjota came on later in the game and Elton Kabangu got the last five minutes, but that clear-cut chance alluded them.
Tomas Magnusson
The recent form of midfield duo Cammy Devlin and Beni Baningime has meant the towering Icelandic midfielder has been used sparingly. And he can have no complaints.
But when it was revealed ahead of the game that Baningime will miss the next six to eight weeks, Magnusson seemed the natural replacement.
Like Baningime, Magnusson is comfortable in possession and helped to keep it ticking over in the centre of the park, alongside Devlin who was his usual all-action self.
A lot is asked of the midfield two defensively in this Hearts side and Magnusson was solid in that respect too. One of the attributes he brings that Baningime lacks is height. This is a bonus in a defensive sense, but it also gave Hearts another option to hit when playing long from defensive free kicks and the like.
With around 25 minutes to go, Magnusson was replaced by Ageu as McInnes looked to turn one point into three.
Devlin delight
The consistent presence of Devlin ensured Hearts had a solid platform in what was a messy game. Unsurprisingly, no player combined for more tackles won, interceptions and recoveries. There were countless times where Devlin thwarted a United attack, as he did around the 75th minute with a brilliant sliding tackle, or made it uneasy for the visitors by pressing, harassing, harrying and scampering.
He was just as influential on the ball, providing a wee bit of control and composure that was often missing from the game.
It's a side of his game that draws somewhat unfair criticism. He tried to progress the game where he could, whether it was by driving forward or switching play.
It is hard to pinpoint a more consistent and influential presence in the Hearts team this season.
He will now go on international duty with Australia and should feature in friendlies against Venezuela or Colombia. It's the least he deserves.
Beaton frustration
To say Hearts fans were miffed with the performance of John Beaton would be an understatement. Boos rained down from the stands at half-time when he made his way down the tunnel and, at one point, a fan beside the media seats suggested to the assembled journalists that they should write about the referee being a "cheat".
Now, we are not going to take on such a suggestion, but it was the type of officiating performance that annoys fans. Pernickety and inconsistent. There were periods where it felt and sounded like the whistle never stopped.
Hearts have a right to feel somewhat aggrieved with a foul given to United in the build-up to their equalising goal. An aerial challenge deep in the Hearts half was adjudged to be a foul. Moments earlier, Beaton and his team of officials had ignored a clear barge that floored Landry Kabore. As clear a foul as you'll see.
Then, deep into the second half, he failed to spot or give a foul for a clear pull on Kingsley. Craig Halkett followed up with a strong challenge on Vicko Sevelj. It looked like he got enough of the ball but he was penalised and shown a yellow card that will keep him out of the Aberdeen game through suspension.
Fair play to Beaton in the second half, however, when he was quick to book United's Amar Fatah when tumbled in the box under little to no pressure.
