…as McArdle sees red.

Events conspired against Aberdeen this afternoon as they lost once again. They enjoyed little luck in front of goal then lost the match when Diamond headed past his own keeper. There were plenty of chances for both sides, but the ball just wouldn’t go into the Saints net. The post denied Aberdeen in the first half and in injury time the ball was cleared off the line. The turning point came in the 47th minute when McArdle was controversially shown a straight red card for a challenge on Taylor. And although the teams were evenly matched it was a lapse of concentration that cost the Dons the game. A quick corner was taken and Saints were in the penalty area before the defence reacted. As the ball was delivered Diamond headed past his own keeper and the match was lost.

Saints kicked off, but it was Aberdeen who threatened first and only a late flag denied Aluko a run on goal in the 3rd minute. Two minutes later Adams had a pot at goal from distance, but the effort went wide. At this stage Aberdeen were pressing forward, but the final pass kept going astray. Vernon had a great chance in the 8th minute, but keeper Enckelman spread himself well to block the effort. Aberdeen had a lucky break three minutes later when a Samuel cross was blocked then Maguire passed the ball back into the danger area. Fortunately Aberdeen cleared and set up a chance of their own.

They worked the ball forward and Vernon found Robertson on the edge of the box, but his effort went over. Two minutes later Aluko sent Maguire down the right, but his cross was cut out by Enckelman. Saints then won a couple of corners, but they failed to create any chances. The visitor’s should have taken the lead in the 22nd minute when a cross into the box was turned on to the post when it looked easier to score. A flag denied the Dons in the 25th minute when Vernon looked to have collected and scored, but was adjudged offside.

Robertson and Hartley combined well in the 29th minute, but the effort from the captain was high and not too handsome. Two minutes later an Aluko shot was fumbled by the keeper, but he managed to grab the ball at the second attempt with Vernon set to pounce. Aberdeen should have opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when Vernon did well to win the ball in the middle of the park and release Aluko. The Nigerian international went one-on-one with the keeper, but the ball took a wicked bobble as he shot and the effort went wide.

Three minutes later the Dons luck deserted them again when a Maguire shot was parried at the near post and Vernon followed up, but could only turn the ball on to the post. Aluko had another opportunity in the 40th minute, but failed to make the pass and was eventually outnumbered. Aberdeen won their first corner in the 43rd minute, but the Saints were able to clear quite comfortably before the ball was returned and yet another tight offside flag ended the threat. Hartley earned a late caution as the half ended without scoring.

The second half started in a blaze of controversy when McArdle was shown a straight red for a challenge that merited a yellow at worst. Taylor went down as though he had been cut in half, but made speedy recovery when the damage had been done. The incident certainly had the Dons fans feeling a sense of outrage and every challenge that went unpunished was derided. On the hour mark Aluko wriggled his way to the bye line and fired great a cross that was missed by everyone. At the other end Langfield was forced into a fine block from Samuel.

Duberry was booked in the 65th minute for a poor challenge on Robertson as the game threatened to boil over. An off the ball incident that left Maguire on the seat of his pants was missed then in the 66th minute there were hopeful appeals for a penalty. A Saints free kick caused problems in the 70th minute as Langfield failed to connect and the ball went harmlessly wide. Maguire then forced a corner in the 72nd minute and when the ball was half cleared Aluko collected, cut inside, but could only fire wide. An elbow into the face of Diamond courtesy of Sam Parkin failed to win a free kick never mind a caution.

With Diamond off for treatment the Dons nine men launched an attack on the right, but Maguire failed to get his cross in. Jack was then fouled as he made his way to the bye-line only for the assistant to award a free kick to Saints. The youngster kicked the ball away in frustration and earned a 60 second lecture and a caution. A great defensive header by Diamond gave Saints a corner then Aberdeen switched off as a quick corner was taken and the unfortunate Diamond headed into his own net for what proved to be the winner.

A mistake from Enckelman produced a corner, but the keeper redeemed himself with a fine punch. A couple of decent deliveries from Maguire failed to produce the final touch as Vernon was inches from connecting and the keeper was down quickly to cut out the danger. Velicka then replaced Robertson as Aberdeen looked for an equaliser. Aberdeen forced a series of corners deep in injury time and their luck didn’t improve as the ball was cleared off the line to deny them an equaliser then with the final kick of the match Parkin sent the ball wide with Langfield beaten.