St. Johnstone 1 - 1 Aberdeen

Saints had a well-worked free kick in the 14th minute, culminating in a fierce Jackson shot. Preece had it covered though and made a fine save. A minute later Derek Young found space, but was let down by a weak finish. Bisconti was finding acres of space in the midfield and in the 18th minute his strength was used to great effect as he set up his central partner Darren Young. His shot went inches over the bar. The Dons pressure finally paid in the 20th minute. A Thornley corner was met by McGuire and he bulleted his header beyond Main. Two minutes later, Mackie broke on the right and tried to find Thornley who was in splendid isolation on the left. Unluckily, a despairing foot stopped the ball from reaching its intended target.

A poor clearance by Preece in the 25th minute was very nearly costly for the Dons. McGuire was forced to bring down Connolly on the edge of the box. He earned a booking for his troubles, but Falconer's shot from the resultant kick was blocked. Darren Young was yellow carded in the 34th minute and Dasovic followed him into the book a minute later, for a foul on Bisconti.

The game was littered with stoppages and Darren Jackson became the fourth booking in the 39th minute when he tripped Derek Young. From the resultant free kick, Guntveit nodded Thornley's cross down and Whyte sent his volley over the bar. Bisconti was running the show in the middle of the park and once more his forceful play set Thornley clear in the 44th minute. It took two Saints defenders to stop him getting his shot in. A minute later though, McNaughton set him up again and this time his chip went inches over the crossbar

Aberdeen made a disastrous start to the second half when an unmarked Jim Weir, headed a Jackson corner home. Aberdeen tried to regain the advantage straight away and steady pressure ended with McNaughton hitting a shot high over Main's crossbar. St. Johnstone had the ball in the net in the 52nd minute, but Falconer was adjudged offside. Aberdeen were not enjoying the domination of the first half as both teams tried to slug it out for an opening.

Bisconti was booked on the hour mark for dissent. Thornley was causing problems and he set Mackie clear on the right in the 66th minute. The youngsters cross was well delivered to the back post, but there were no takers. Zerouali replaced Mackie in the 68th minute as the Dons tried to regain the advantage. He nearly made a difference a minute later when following his own free kick, McNaughton hit a vicious shot which Main couldn't hold. Zerouali followed up and with an empty net in front of him, he managed to slice the ball over the bar.

Zero set Darren Young clear in the 73rd minute, but the midfielder's first touch let him down and Main managed to smother the ball. Two minutes later Eugene Dadi made his debut, replacing Derek Young. McAllister became the sixth booking of the match in the 78th minute after upending the impressive Keigan Parker. Aberdeen should have taken the lead two minutes later when they were awarded a penalty. Dadi collected a through ball by Derek Whyte. As he made his way into the box Kemble took him down. Zerouali took the kick and hit it wide of Main's right hand post.

A minute later, Dadi made exactly the same run. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Kemble made a saving tackle. Parker was booked in the 90th minute for a bad tackle on McGuire. After dominating the game, Aberdeen had only themselves to blame for dropping two points.