Redweb Spfl Matchday Centre | St Mirren 0-1 Aberdeen

Rooney makes Saints pay the penalty as Dons claim 3 points

St Mirren 0

Aberdeen 1 | Rooney (Pen 79′)

SPFL Premiership | St Mirren Park, Paisley | KO 12.45pm | Full Time

Match summary:

Adam Rooney’s penalty 11 minutes from time was enough to give Aberdeen all three points after a dull game in Paisley.

There were very few chances throughout the game and after a goalless first half the tempo did pick up slightly at the start of the second half. There was still very little goal mouth action though and the game looked to be heading for a goalless draw until Pawlett picked the ball up and drove towards the box. Former Manchester United player, Eric Djemba-Djemba then rashly challenged Pawlett on the edge of the box and referee Calum Murray awarded a penalty to which Rooney stepped up and sent Kello the wrong way.

St Mirren then tried to get back in the game and 4 minutes from the end a combination of Jamie Langfield and Willo Flood cleared a low, driven effort from former Don, Gregg Wylde. The Dons held on and recorded another vital, if not pretty, victory.

Derek McInnes made two changes to the side which defeated Celtic in the Scottish Cup 5th Round last weekend. Jonny Hayes and Barry Robson both had minor knocks and weren’t risked- Nicky Low and Joe Shaughnessy came into the team in their place.

Aberdeen team | Langfield, Logan, Anderson, Reynolds, Considine, Flood, Pawlett, Low (Tate 85′), McGinn, Rooney, Shaughnessy

Substitutes not used | Weaver, Murray, Smith, Vernon, Zola, McManus