Top six starts to look difficult task.

Aberdeen failed to sparkle at Pittodrie this afternoon and fell a goal behind after only ten minutes when Dorman was given too much space to control a bouncing ball before drilling it past an unprotected Derek Soutar. Aberdeen were spurred into action after this set back and levelled in the 29th minute when Lee Mair headed home a Nicholson corner. Aberdeen created little after the break and even when St. Mirren went down to ten men in the 77th minute they couldn’t break the Saints down and indeed they had to rely on a world class save from Derek Soutar a minute later to deny Kean a winner for the Paisley side.

St. Mirren kicked off on a bitterly cold afternoon peppered with snow showers. The visitor’s had the first shot at goal in the 2nd minute but it was a fairly tame effort from Mehmet that failed to worry Derek Soutar. A minute later Miller fed Aluko and he teased the St. Mirren defence and won the first corner of the match. Lee Miller flicked Nicholson’s effort across goal but there was no one lurking for Aberdeen. Another cross from Aluko in the 5th minute was once again headed behind for a corner, but this time Smith was up quickly to claim the ball. St. Mirren then took a sensational lead in the 10th minute when Dorman was given far too much space between Mair and Maybury and drilled his effort past Soutar.

Two minutes later Miller went sprawling in the box, but it would have been a soft award. A Sone Aluko free kick a minute later was easily cleared and a Maguire cross in the 16th minute was far too close to the keeper. A poor free kick a minute later allowed St. Mirren to counter attack and win their own free kick 20 yards out, but fortunately Haining fired well wide. Maguire tried a speculative shot in the 21st minute but Smith was down smartly to smother the ball. Mehmet strode forward in the 23rd minute but his finish was poor and three minutes later Smith made a comfortable stop from a low drive from Severin.

Severin went crashing to the deck in the 28th minute but referee Allan was not interested. A corner a minute later produced the equaliser when Lee Mair headed a Nicholson cross into the net with the Saints defence looking static. St. Mirren tried to hit back immediately as the Dons defence continued to look shaky. A long range effort from Foster in the 40th minute was blocked deep inside the box and a minute later Aluko’s first touch inside the box ended the threat as Aberdeen began to attack in waves on the Saints goal. Unfortunately the referee’s whistle stopped the action just as Aberdeen looked like they would make another breakthrough.

St. Mirren didn’t seem too keen to return after the break as the Dons were left waiting in the cold for several minutes. Aberdeen made a positive start to the second half and Mackie had a half-chance in the opening minute but Smith was out smartly to claim the ball. At the other end Kean had a great chance but screwed his effort wide. Mair then conceded a free kick on the edge of the box but Saints made a complete hash of the set play. An Aberdeen free kick at the other end was punched clear by Smith as St. Mirren headed towards the Aberdeen goal and some good close play almost produced a chance.

Another free kick from Nicholson in the 54th minute was wasted and four minutes later a corner was equally ineffective. McNamara replaced Chris Maguire on the hour mark and two minutes later a heavy touch from Mackie allowed Smith to collect. St. Mirren then had a chance but Nicholson got back to block the effort. Seconds later Nicholson was up at the other end having a shot at goal but the ball floated over the bar. Maybury went on a good run in the 67th minute but his shot was deflected, taking the sting out of the shot. A minute later Bus replaced Mair as Aberdeen continued to huff and puff in front of goal.

A free kick in the 73rd minute was rolled to Severin but his shot was charged down and a minute later Miller won another free kick in exactly the same position. A move from the training ground failed to produce dividends as bodies ran in several directions but Severin failed to find Mackie inside the box. Aluko broke well in the 76th minute but his lay off to Severin was sliced wide of the target. A minute later Barron was sent off after receiving a stupid second yellow card for kicking the ball away. Considine had to look lively a minute later as Dorman ran in on goal and seconds later Soutar made a magnificent save to deny Kean.

With nine minutes remaining Josh Walker replaced Alan Maybury as the Dons looked for a winner. However it was St. Mirren who looked the likelier as Bus had to concede a corner in the 82nd minute. St. Mirren won another corner in the 84th minute as Aberdeen struggled to get forward against the ten men. Another Saints corner followed a minute later but this time Aberdeen broke forward through McNamara and a Bus cross was just missed by Lee Miller in the centre. The visitor’s were defending resiliently and an Aluko cross was scrambled clear as Miller and Nicholson looked to pounce.

There were three minutes of injury time shown by the fourth official and in the 92nd minute the ball bounced off of Severin in front of goal allowing Smith to collect. Seconds later a McNamara shot was blocked and the chance of a win and perhaps the chance of a top six finish were gone.