That empty feeling after battling show
ST JOHNSTONE .................0 ABERDEEN.........................1 Matthew Gallagher
There is nothing quite like a sixth minute red card to bring on the feeling of impending doom.
Even before a ball was kicked some of the joy of returning from the international break was dented by traffic delays due to sewer upgrade roadworks on the Crieff Road.
Saints’ start had been far from stinking though. It was refreshingly positive and both Liam Gordon and Ryan Mcgowan – the latter a standout all afternoon – had gone close to opening the scoring as many were still shuffling through the turnstiles.
Any latecomers or those getting their money’s worth
Matthews,wright, Mcgowan, Gordon, Considine, Montgomery, Phillips (Bair 90), Hallberg,wotherspoon (Murphy 71), May, Rudden (Carey 65). Not used: Sinclair, Brown, Gallacher, Mitchell, Moreland, Mylchreest.
Roos, Mccrorie, Scales, Shinnie, Miovski (Watkins 90), Duk (Myslovic 86), Ramadani, Hayes (Duncan 76), Pollock, Clarkson, Macdonald. Not used: Lewis, Mackenzie, Markanday, Richardson, Kennedy, Bavidge.
Star man: Ryan Mcgowan. Attendance: 6001.
from pre-match hospitality liquid would enter to the sound of optimistic home supporters quickly growing in belief.
The feeling this might just be the day to record a fourth win of the season at Mcdiarmid Park.
The icing on the cake would’ve been an early goal but birthday boy Andy Considine, just moments later, blew out some candles of hope by getting himself ordered off.
An experienced operator, he was caught wrong side of North Macedonia international Bojan Miovski and reacted by deploying a right arm to the shoulder.
There had undeniably been contact but enough to send the six foot plus forward crashing to the turf?
Perhaps not.
Referee Colin Steven initially pointed to the penalty spot and Considine remained on the park. A VAR check then deemed the foul was outside the box but that a red card was required. Happy birthday, Mr Considine.
Aberdeen made a complete mess of the free-kick but would lead on the half hour mark when Angus Macdonald turned Jonny Hayes’ near post corner goalwards.
Remi Matthews initially saved well but the ball rebounded off his own foot and trundled into the back of the net.
Saints had still been giving a good account of themselves despite being a man light and Stevie May – partnering Zak Rudden – remained content to run in behind the Dons defence.
David Wotherspoon, who was back in for a rare start since starring at the World Cup with Canada at the end of last year, felt the game was very much still up for grabs at this point.
“When we went down to 10 men we stuck at it and looked promising on the counter,” he said. “The boys were positive on the ball, brave to get on it.
“The energy levels and attitude were both excellent. Tactically brilliant.”
Determined defending after the interval continued. Mcgowan continued to shine in his first start since a recent groin problem.
He was chasing down the ball with regularity – Aberdeen attackers, midfielders, defenders and, it seemed, anyone unable to run away quick enough.
Saints really pushed for the leveller in the closing stages and Jamie Murphy’s introduction, in particular, added more attacking intent.
Melker Hallberg had two glorious chances, one with a downwards header and the other from a Murphy cut-back.
The Swede, from a promising position deep inside the box, fluffed his lines.
Dons skipper Graeme Shinnie was sent packing early in stoppage time for a second bookable offence and then, with the last play of the game, Gordon was inches from finding an equaliser.
His looping header from a Graham Carey cross looked on the money but was expertly clawed out by flying goalkeeper Kelle Roos.
“We don’t want to plod our way to the end of the season,” Wotherspoon explained to the PA shortly after the full-time whistle. “We really want to push ourselves as much as we can.
“Boys are playing for contracts and positions. There will be a lot of fight going into every game.”