Cosgrove puts in a shift ... and the winner
st mirren 1
MacPherson (35)
Aberdeen 2
May (pen. 30), Cosgrove (60)
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes will allow himself a glance at the Premiership table this morning.
The Dons are now up to fourth place after a frustrating spell when they’ve been toiling to make the top six.
McInnes is aiming to end the year with his men firmly established in a European spot.
Their nine games in December is a schedule McInnes described a “nuts” but one they’re stuck with.
A hard-fought victory at St Mirren yesterday showed how difficult their task will be.
The Pittodrie manager admitted some of his players were running on empty as they held on for the points.
He said: “I haven’t enjoyed looking at the league table.
“Everybody’s saying it’s the most competitive SPFL for a long time – and we’re not there.
“We’re normally there, so it doesn’t sit well with me.
“But we’ve had more injuries and suspensions than ever.
Regarding his team’s display in Paisley, he said: “At times we needed a bit more calmness and a bit more thought.
“We beat St Mirren 4-1 earlier in the season and some of our play that day was sparkling.
“But it’s the same three points this time and we got them from a really untidy game.
“If we can get nine points from this three-game run, against St Mirren, Dundee on Tuesday and Hearts on Saturday, it takes us to where we normally are at the halfway stage.”
There had been little to warm the freezing fans until they saw two goals in five minutes during the first half.
Aberdeen went ahead soon after their first real effort on goal – a free-kick from Niall McGinn – was tipped over by Lyness.
At the corner, Jones fouled Considine and Stevie May slotted away the penalty.
That should have been a signal for the Dons to get a grip on proceedings, but Saints were quickly level.
McInnes was screaming from the touchline about the defensive formation he wanted at a free-kick but his men didn’t listen and, when the ball was clipped in, they let Cammy McPherson have time and space to strike from close range.
Joe Lewis was less than amused his defenders.
Saints started brightly after the break but were undone by another set-piece.
A Considine header was touched on to the bar by Lyness and Sam Cosgrove reacted first to nod the rebound home.
The big striker does a lot of dirty work as the focus of the Dons attack and will take confidence from scoring in consecutive games.
His team-mate Stevie May, however, is crying out for a goal from open play. He spurned a great chance, set up by Cosgrove, when he fired straight at Lyness shortly before Aberdeen’s winner.
If he could start hitting the net a little more, McInnes will be a whole lot happier.
St Mirren manager Owen Kearney felt his team just about deserved a share of the points and they kept going until the whistle in search of an equaliser.
Kearney believes timing is crucial if Saints are to avoid going straight back down to the Championship.
He said: “We’re still in the mix and that’s the important thing.
“Other teams have had bits of momentum, but we’re still craving that five or six game run I feel we have in us.
“It’s important we prove to be strong finishers this season.
“When we freshen up in January, we have to aim to go up another level.”