Defeat was a Don deal after penalty
MIRREN MATCHES AS THEY WERE REPORTED AT THE TIME
St Mirren............0
Aberdeen ...........1
Adam Rooney’s 80th-minute penalty was enough to settle this match ... and increase the relegation play- off pressure on St Mirren.
The former Caley Thistle star sent Marian Kello the wrong way from the spot after Eric Djemba-Djemba was adjudged to have brought down Peter Pawlett in the penalty box.
John McGinn came back into the Saints starting line-up after missing last weekend’s Scottish Cup tie through suspension.
Gregg Wylde also returned after being cup-tied at Tannadice.
Out went defenders Jason Naismith, who dropped to the bench, and Marc McAusland, who was suspended.
Aberdeen forced four corners during the first 10 minutes and, from the last of these, the ball was played out to Shaleum Logan but the Dons number 29 angled his right- foot shot from distance just over the bar.
At the other end, Paul McGowan picked up a Djemba- Djemba pass in the Aberdeen penalty area before twisting and turning and then shooting harmlessly wide of the far post.
Buddies striker Steven Thompson saw an effort blocked by Mark Reynolds and then lashed the rebound wide of target.
Saints were on the front foot again as Wylde’s pace down the wing earned them a corner.
Former Dons ace Wylde took the kick himself and Kenny McLean was there with a header but Dons goalkeeper Jamie Langfield collected the ball with ease.
Next, Aberdeen won a free-kick when Logan was brought to ground 22 yards out and in a central position.
Up stepped Niall McGinn but Wylde blocked the Irishman’s effort.
Dons winger McGinn then saw a shot fly high and wide as he picked up a Willo Flood pass in a decent position.
Three minutes after the interval, Saints created a good scoring chance as McLean and McGowan combined on the right for the former to send in a cross for Thompson but the ball slid wide of Langfield’s goal.
Moments later, some good work from McGinn and McLean released McGowan but, unfortunately for him, the offside flag was raised.
There was controversy after 52 minutes when Jim Goodwin picked up a booking for a handball as he challenged Rooney.
Aberdeen then threatened again as a set-piece was attacked by Andrew Considine, who brought out a fine save from Kello.
Saints had a sniff at goal as McGinn tried his luck with a right-footed shot from distance that bobbled wide of the mark, before Djemba-Djemba was booked for going through the back of Niall McGinn.
Adam Campbell replaced McGowan with a quarter of an hour remaining.
However, just minutes later, the Dons won a penalty as Djemba- Djemba brought down Pawlett and referee Murray pointed to the spot.
Rooney stepped up to slot the ball past Kello and make it 1-0.
With four minutes remaining, Darren McGregor ghosted in beyond the Dons defence to collect a superb McGinn pass and slotted the ball into the net but the linesman’s flag came to the visitors’ rescue and the ‘goal’ was chalked off.
Late on, Wylde produced a great save from Langfield as he collected a Gary Teale corner and shot low and firm.
There were to be no further chances for Saints as they slumped to another defeat and were left to lick their wounds ahead of next weekend’s crucial trip to Ross County.