Unexpected returns from Jonny Hayes and Willo Flood were a boost to Aberdeen as both men were highly unlikely to feature earlier in the week. A minutes applause was held for the remarkable and inspiring man that Nelson Mandela was before the match. Looking on from the comfort of the executive boxes as Sir Alex Ferguson, who had obviously seen enough of Manchester United down south, and so travelled north to watch his two former clubs fight it out at McDiarmid Park. Once again there was an enormous Dons following, both ends were allocated to the Red Army who were brilliant throughout the ninety minutes.
Aberdeen started brightly and were looking the team more likely to make the break through. Just on the ten minute mark the ball broke to Vernon on the half way line. The Saints defence was in a very strange shape and were all over the place. Pawlett burst through the middle and with great vision and technique Vernon laid the ball into his path. Pawlett drove in at goal but the resulting shot went so close for the on form youngster but just couldn't find the pinpoint accuracy. Inches wide, the ball took some of the white paint off the post it was that close. Aberdeen were doing a good job of keeping it tight at the back an then looking to hit St Johnstone on the break. This payed dividends as Robson robbed the ball off of Millar just inside his own half. Vernon then found the ball at his feet and the central overlap came from Pawlett. Vernon delicately laid the ball of to Pawlett who picked the ball up and had one touch and drilled the ball like a guided missile into the bottom corner of Mannus' goal from 20 yards out. A magnificent goal from the man who just extended his contract at Aberdeen.
The Dons were now clearly the team in the ascendancy and looked to double their lead sooner rather than later. St Johnstone looked slow, unfit and careless when in posession it was just not clicking for them. Strange as they had been such a formidable force at home before Saturday. Millar once again with a sack pass conceded possession to Aberdeen on the half hour mark. McGinn picked up the ball just outside the box, and Vernon had made another neat little run to the back post as he peeled away from his man. McGinn slid the ball into his half and after good touch from Vernon it was a shame he could not produce a finish as his curling effort ended up in the Dons crowd behind the goal. St Johnstone seemed to have a game plan of som sort but it was not working. This seemed to be to try and get as many free kicks in dangerous areas as possible and pump the ball into the box. The rock solid Dons defence was standing up to their task, especially Anderson who looked immense at the back. Langfield did not have much to do at all the whole game but he did make a superb stop after Stevie May fired in a point blank shot but the keeper's reactions were lightning fast to divert it past the post for a corner.
The second half retained more or less the same rhythm with Aberdeen Pushing for the second goal and St Johnstone, well, struggling to keep them out. Aberdeen fashioned their first chance of the second half with Jonny Hayes down the right hand wing. He chipped in a delightful ball to the front post where Pawlett who was having a brilliant game latched on to it but his guided effort was well saved by the saints keeper. The Dons fans at each end of the ground could sense that the second goal was coming.
Saints boss Tommy Wright looked for a bigger physical presence up front so brought on former Aberdeen player Rory Fallon. He was booed by the Dons contingent but their thoughts on him would switch in seconds. After being on the park for less than a minute Fallon was sent off for a deliberate elbow to the face of Michael Hector. The big striker was cheered off the park by the Aberdeen fans chanting "There's only one Rory Fallon, one Rory Fallon...". That more or less handed the game to Aberdeen and from there on in it was just chance after chance for the side from the north east. Hector had a lash at goal from range that stung the palms of Mannus in the Saints goal. He has got that striking ability in him as he showed against Partick Thistle. Vernon was one of many who just missed the target and no more as Aberdeen looked to kill this game off. Finally that goal cam in the 85th minute. A magnificent throw from Langfield to distribute the ball to McGinn on the right wing sent him away unchallenged. McGinn was eventually closed down on the far left hand side of the pitch, but cut inside and when it looked like he should of passed it had a shot. What an effort it was as his long range curling effort almost glided into the postage stamp of the net in slow motion. Goal of the season contender right there, keeper Mannus had no chance. McGinn now has five goals in five games and has finally got his season started properly as he is finding the net week after week for the Dons now. A great result for Aberdeen and once again the Red Army turned out in numbers to get behind the team and push them onto victory.
FT: St Johnstone 0-2 Aberdeen
St Johnstone
- 01 Mannus
- 02 Mackay
- 03 Scobbie
- 18 Davidson
- 25 Jahic
- 05 Wright
- 07 Millar (Edwards - 55' )
- 08 McDonald (Caddis - 88' )
- 11 Hasselbaink (Fallon - 70' Dismissed )
- 17 May
- 10 Wotherspoon
Substitutes
- 04 Cregg
- 14 Edwards
- 15 Banks
- 16 Caddis
- 19 Miller
- 20 Brown
- 27 Fallon
Aberdeen
- 01 Langfield
- 27 Hector
- 06 Reynolds
- 22 Jack
- 04 Anderson
- 05 Considine
- 10 McGinn
- 16 Pawlett
- 09 Vernon (Magennis - 88' )
- 15 Robson Booked (Low - 89' )
- 11 Hayes (Flood - 77' )
Substitutes
- 02 Shaughnessy
- 07 Zola
- 08 Flood
- 17 Wylde
- 18 Low
- 20 Weaver
- 21 Magennis
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