The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Aberdeen St Mirren
Aberdeen only have themselves to blame for letting victory slip from their grasp against StMirren last night.
The Dons were dominant against the Buddies, but wasted an alarming number of chances despite carving out a two-goal lead and capitulated in incredible fashion in an astonishing game at Pittodrie.
Dons manager Derek McInnes made one change to the team which beat Caley Thistle 3-2 on Saturday.
Fit-again Niall McGinn was restored to the starting line-up in place of Andrew Considine, with Jonny Hayes dropping back to left back in a Dons team chasing a fifth home win in a row for the first time since former manager Jimmy Calderwood was in charge. It was the period between November 2008 to January 2009 when the Pittodrie faithful last witnessed five wins in a row in Calderwood’s final campaign.
For former Don Tommy Craig, the trip north with his St Mirren side represented a daunting challenge. The performances have been gradually improving for the Buddies but they arrived in the Granite City joint bottom of the Scottish Premiership with just one win league win.
Craig made one change to theteamwhich lost 2-1 at home to Celtic on Saturday with former Don Gregg Wylde replacing the injured Jeroen Tesselaar.
McGinn’s return gave McInnes even more pace in his team and he showed his intent to test Saints at every turn, going so far as to leave three attacking players on the halfway line when defending a corner.
It took the Dons all of four minutes to get in behind the St Mirren rearguard as Peter Pawlett
“McGinn’s return gave McInnes even more pace in his team”
released Hayes down the left.
The Irishman cut inside his marker before forcing goalkeeper Marian Kello into a fine save with David Goodwilliecaughtinanoffside position as he tried to convert the rebound.
The pace of the Dons frontline was a clear cause for concern for the Buddies and Saints defender Marc McAusland soon found himself cautioned for sending Goodwillie sprawling as he tried to break clear from the halfway line.
But Saints had pace as well inWylde and he intercepted an Ashton Taylor pass back to Jamie Langfield before racing towards goal. The Aberdeen goalkeeper was equal to the task, however, blocking his shot for a corner.
The chance gave Saints confidence and they went close again with a spectacular long-range effort from midfielder Kenny McLean, whose 25-yard shot beat