Dons Break Buddies Hearts With Late Leveller

The Monday evening match saw a spirited performance from St Mirren who put on a good show for their fans and may have just bought Danny Lennon some more time in his current managerial role. Aberdeen on the other hand put in a lack luster performance and certainly did not play to their full potential.

Right from the outset the Saints tried to make the game scrappy and got in Aberdeen's faces, giving them no time to dwell on the ball. However within the opening minute the Dons revved up the tempo and a neat reverse ball from Ryan Jack saw Johnny Hayes sprinting down the wing and whipped in a decent ball into the box.Calvin Zola just couldn't get in front of his marker to find the net. And that was the best that the Dons could muster in the first half and the game descended into a scrappy dog fight. The ball seemed to be constantly in the air and niggly fouls being committed all over the park. Aberdeen just couldn't get going, McInnes had started with an unfamiliar 4-4-2 formation with Zola and Vernon up front, and it wasn't working. John McGinn managed to get the first real effort on goal which forced  good low save from Langfield. The first half saw almost next to no quality and the referee had had enough and brought the first period to a close.

McInnes acknowledged the fact that the system was not going well and made his first substitution at half time. Vernon came off and on came Nicky Low. The game looked to take on a similar mantle to that of the first half, but things changed when Thompson got the break of the ball in the Aberdeen box and fired past Langfield. Almost immediately from kick off Aberdeen were on the attack and Pawlett could of had the leveller but his shot was blocked, The St Mirren keeper then made a superb save from a curling Johnny Hayes freekick. Aberdeen were now asking questions of the St Mirren defence for the first time in the match. The Dons were commiting men forward in search of the equaliser, and the Buddies almost capitalised on that as Kenny McLean drove a shot whiskers past the Dons goal. Then on came Niall McGinn returning after several weeks out with an ankle injury. He added a whole new dynamic to the Aberdeen attacking line and would almost win the game for Aberdeen when it came to it. Aberdeen scored their goal on the 84th minute seeing them get their reward for their vigorous efforts throughout. Pawlett found himself at the edge of the box and after a Hayes corner was failed to be cleared the ball fell to Pawlett who thrashed the ball through a throng of players and past Dilo. Aberdeen were in the ascendancy and looked to press home that advantage. Niall McGinn skipped away from Mair and took a first time effort at goal. The ball flew harmlessly past the goal. If only he had squared it to Hayes who would of had a tap in and surely win the game for Aberdeen.
he Saints keeper

In conclusion it was a frustrating night for Aberdeen who were playing against a team who basically sat in at home and made it difficult for the Dons who lacked cutting edge. Once again and we know we have heard it time and time again this season, but massive amounts of praise must go to the travelling Aberdeen support who got to Paisley on a cold Monday evening to get behind our one love that is Aberdeen FC.

FT: St Mirren 1-1 Aberdeen

St Mirren

• 30 Dilo
• 04 McGregor
• 05 Mair
• 06 Goodwin
• 02 van Zanten
• 07 McGinn Booked (Bahoken - 69' )
• 11 McLean
• 18 Kelly
• 24 Newton
• 09 Thompson (Teale - 89' )
• 10 McGowan

Substitutes

• 01 Cornell
• 22 Naismith
• 08 Harkins
• 16 Caprice
• 17 Reilly
• 21 Teale
• 19 Bahoken

Aberdeen

• 01 Langfield
• 02 Shaughnessy
• 05 Considine
• 06 Reynolds
• 27 Hector
• 11 Hayes
• 14 Smith (McGinn - 75' )
• 16 Pawlett
• 22 Jack
• 07 Zola Booked (Magennis - 63' )
• 09 Vernon (Low - 46' )

Substitutes

• 20 Weaver
• 03 Robertson
• 04 Anderson
• 10 McGinn
• 17 Wylde
• 18 Low
• 21 Magennis