Poor Dons Succumb To Late MacLean Strike

Many thought a week off from playing would allow the players some restbite after their European exertions began to catch up with the squad, but that did not prove to be the case. Instead the 3,100 travelling support witnessed an under par performance featuring many misplaced passes, poor finishing, unforced errors galore and a real lack in creativity. Now that the team have set the standard for themselves so high it will be difficult to reach that level every week, but as an Aberdeen fan, I did expect much better. It was certainly an underwhelming performance. 

The team looked shaky in the opening stages of the match and never managed to get a foot hold in the game. That did not bode well for the remainder of the game and errors began to creep in to Aberdeen's game making life all the more difficult. Early Saints pressure was piled on top of the Dons defence, but after two lapses in concentration it was only miscued efforts that saved Aberdeen from going behind. 

A cross drilled in from the biline by Wotherspoon bipassed everybody in the box and any touch was certain to send the ball into the gaping net. No takers and another let off for Aberdeen. A few began to shuffle in their seat and look agitated in the away end. A slack pass from Hayes soon after gifted the ball to MacLean who bore down on goal eagerly anticipating the one on one with Langfield. The goalkeeper rushed out, made himself big and did enough as the St Johnstone's strikers shot clipped the post and went wide. The home side should have been at least 2-0 up at this point.

The game was turning into a comedy of errors and next it was Langfield's turn to get in on the act as he spilled the ball from a freekick, sending the ball right back into the danger zone. MacDonald was first to it but despite having the whole of the goal to aim for he sliced wide and he fell to the ground. Aberdeen did respond though with a Considine header which rattled off the crossbar before the Saints cleared. Somehow the score stayed at 0-0 as the teams departed the pitch at half time.

The second half started slowly, but it was Aberdeen who claimed the first chance of the half. A well worked free kick was rolled into an unmarked McGinn who then decided to completely miss the ball and it the air instead. The Aberdeen fans held their head in their hands at that. Again the Dons looked to get on the score sheet as Logan whipped in a wicked ball from out wide finding the stretching McGinn who could direct his header on target. 

Then what followed was what Aberdeen had been hoping to avoid. After a period of St Johnstone pressure and successive warnings for Aberdeen a bobbling ball into the box found the feet of MacLean who finished neatly into the bottom corner. Breaking down the St Johnstone defence had been a problem all afternoon for Aberdeen but moments after the goal they were in behind. Goodwillie touched the ball down well and tried to finish from a tight angle, but Mannus was equal to it and cleared the danger. 

Then to anger the Aberdeen fans even more, the referee Craig Thompson who had a shocking game booked Pawlett for diving inside the box. Pawlett was running at full speed and the St Johnstone defender totally nudged him off the ball. It is inconceivable how a card could have been shown to Pawlett. A late chance from McGinn was blasted over the bar, which well and truly summed up Aberdeen's frustrating afternoon. 

FT: St Johnstone 1-0 Aberdeen