Dons keep run going

Aberdeen looked lethargic for long periods of the first half but were gifted the lead four minutes from the break when a clumsy challenge from Van Zanten on Jeffrey de Visscher resulted in a penalty. Captain Scott Severin stepped up to the plate and sent Smith the wrong way. The Dons moved up a gear after the break and two fine goals from Lee Miller, with a second Scott Severin penalty sandwiched in between, gave them a comfortable win in what was a potential banana skin after their exertions in Europe.

St. Mirren kicked off and enjoyed early possession before the ball was gifted to the Dons when O’Donnell pushed Diamond to the ground. Foster was the next player to be clattered and when the resultant free kick came to the edge of the box there was a mix up between Mackie and de Visscher before the ball was cleared. Aberdeen won the first corner in the 6th minute and Lee Miller leapt unchallenged but headed over. Aberdeen were starting to push the Saints back and de Visscher found Mackie with a 40 yard pass in the 12th minute but a loose pass from Young ended the move.

Aberdeen won a free kick in the 14th minute and Nicholson hit the wall before the ball rebounded to him and the wall blocked a second effort. Two minutes later Miller had a chance to open the scoring but an awkward bounce ended up in the keeper’s arms. After soaking up the pressure St. Mirren broke upfield and won a couple of corners that were well defended by the Dons rearguard. Derek Young was upended under the nose of referee Conroy in the 22nd minute but somehow the official missed the incident. The match had gone flat at this stage and was screaming out for a touch of magic to ignite the crowd.

De Visscher did well to control a pass from Severin and the Dutchman was unlucky as he tried to play a one-two on the edge of the box. Five minutes from the break Van Zanten was lucky to escape a yellow card after wrestling Mackie to the ground. The subsequent free kick was half cleared and fell to de Visscher on the edge of the box. As he controlled the ball a clumsy challenge from Van Zanten produced a spot kick for the Dons. Captain Scott Severin took responsibility, and following the booking of Stephen O’Donnell for protesting, he sent Smith the wrong way to open the scoring.

Aberdeen made a positive start to the second half and won the first corner in the 47th minute. De Visscher swung the cross in and Severin headed the ball into the danger area but Smith was out quickly to gather. Lee Miller won a free kick 25 yards out and the keeper did well to hold the shot from Severin. A corner in the 53rd minute was cleared by the Saints defence and a minute later the front line was flagged offside as Langfield sent the ball forward. The visitor’s then had a spell of pressure and the Aberdeen defence had to look lively to repel the attack.

St. Mirren almost levelled on the hour mark when a free kick was cleared to the edge of the box and Miranda fired his effort inches wide with Langfield rooted to the spot. The visitors were rueing the miss three minutes later when Haining, under pressure from Mackie, was short with a pass back allowing Miller to nip in, take the ball wide and roll it into the net from a tight angle. Lovell replaced Mackie in the 65th minute and the Dons extended their lead five minutes later. Miller played a delightful ball through to de Visscher and as the Dutchman attempted to round the keeper he was brought down for the second penalty of the match.

Scott Severin stepped up for a second time and drilled the ball down the middle as Smith, who was booked for the challenge, dived to his right. Langfield showed he was still alert with a fine save from Miranda in the 76th minute and at the other end Nicholson looked sure to make it four but his shot scraped past the right hand post. Seconds later Maguire replaced de Visscher and the youngster showed good skill to win a corner. Aberdeen were in total control now and Miller received a harsh yellow ten minutes from the end before McNamara replaced Severin who in turn received a standing ovation.

Some of the decisions of the officials were baffling at times and Diamond was incensed when Mehmet crunched Maguire late on and no protection was provided. The Dons capped a fine performance in the 87th minute when McNamara delivered a great cross that was killed dead with one touch and fired into the net by Lee Miller. Aberdeen looked to have recovered from a shaky start to the league campaign and with the UEFA Cup and the CIS Cup still very much alive they can go into the international break on a high.