Opportunity to seal the double over Dons

guilty of breaking social distancing rules on team buses and at meals, as well as players car sharing to training.

But he said: ‘I’m limited in what I can say and there’s so much I would love to say. But we are extremely disappointed with the outcome and the board of directors will now decide what our next steps will be. We will fight to hopefully get a better outcome.’

Ross McCrorie, who tested positive for Covid playing for the Under-21s, joined Ferguson back in the Aberdeen midfield.

Dons goalkeeper Joe Lewis, whose late gaffe handed St Mirren victory in last week’s Betfred Cup last-16 tie, denied Ilkay Durmus when he pushed his shot over the bar on three minutes.

Ferguson was soon booked for a crunching tackle on McGrath as he tried to clear the ball from the edge of his own penalty area.

Irish winger Dylan Connolly blew a great chance after 10 minutes when he blasted the ball over the bar from 15 yards after receiving a neat cut-back.

The Dons grabbed the opener eight minutes before the break.

Matty Kennedy burst into the box on the left and hung a cross to the back post, where Hayes directed a header into the top-right corner.

Two minutes before half-time, however, the Buddies were back level from the penalty spot.

Jon Obika flicked the ball up inside the box, with referee Bobby Madden ruling it had struck Tommie Hoban’s hand. McGrath, who scored the fortuitous winner last week, stepped up and sent Lewis the wrong way.

‘I’m really disappointed with the penalty decision against us,’ said Dons boss Derek McInnes. ‘I know refs are under pressure with the new rules.

‘But I spoke to Bobby at half-time having seen it again and I don’t know what Hoban is meant to do.’

Ferguson’s return to the Aberdeen team ended in disaster when he picked up a second yellow card six minutes after the interval when he caught Obika with a late tackle.

McInnes was also shown a yellow card for venting his anger towards Madden. ‘I think it was harsh on Lewis,’ said McInnes, whose team are four games without a win. ‘That wasn’t stopping a promising attack.

‘Fergie was fobbed off by Obika, who is using his body strength as he would do.

‘Ferguson bundled into him but I don’t see that as a yellow card offence. There has to be some discretion shown by the referee.’

ST MIRREN (4-2-3-1): Alnwick; Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy, Tait; Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon (MacPherson 64); Connolly (McAllister 78), McGrath, Durmus (Dennis 78); Obika (Erwin 59).

Subs (not used): Lyness, Mason, Flynn, Foley, Morias. Booked: Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon.

ABERDEEN (4-2-3-1): Lewis; Hoban, Taylor (Logan 46), Considine, Leigh; McCrorie, Ferguson; Hedges (Ojo 60), Hayes (Devlin 79), Kennedy (Edmondson 79); Cosgrove (Main 64). Subs (not used): Woods, McLennan, Hernandez, Campbell. Booked: Ferguson, Hayes. Sent off: Ferguson.

Referee: Bobby Madden.