St. Mirren 2 - 1 Aberdeen

There were two changes from the Dons team that started the 1-1 draw at Hamilton Accies on Wednesday night. Derek McInnes was able to welcome Jonny Hayes back to the side following his spell out injured and Niall McGinn also started the game - Ash Taylor and Curtis Main dropped to the bench. Shay Logan is missing from the subs through suspension.

Andrew Considine made his 535th appearance for Aberdeen, equalling Jim Leighton's total, and moving into joint fifth spot in the all-time AFC list. Tommy Hoban made the 100th senior appearance of his career whilst Ryan Hedges played game number 50 game for the club. Lewis Ferguson, Ross McCrorie and Connor McLennan continued to be unavailable because of the Covid-19 protocols following their spell with Scotland Under-21s. Scott Wright, Dylan McGeouch, Marley Watkins and Tomas Cerny remain out injured.

There were two changes for St Mirren too, fresh from their 1-0 win at Livingston last Saturday and coming into this tie on a six game unbeaten run since the last minute 2-1 defeat at Pittodrie on October 2^nd. Out went Ethan Erhahon and Brandon Mason, to be replaced by Ilkay Durmus and Cameron MacPherson.

A mazy run from Connolly, coming inside from the right, opened the game up in the second minute, Hayes bringing him down on the edge of the box. From the free-kick, Durmus placed the ball over the wall, a deflection off Funso Ojo wrongfooting Lewis and dropping the ball into the bottom corner for a nightmare start for the Dons.

It could have been worse in the seventh minute, Tait drifting inside from the left flank and drilling in a shot from 25 yards that had Joe Lewis beaten, the ball thumping into the post and bouncing to safety as Aberdeen struggled to get going in the teeth of a very lively St. Mirren start.

The Dons gradually settled to the game as the half wore on but were struggling to get sight of the opposition goal as St. Mirren were in no rush to commit too many men forward now they had a one goal advantage to protect. A good move in the 24^th minute involving Greg Leigh and Hayes ended with a McGinn effort being charged down in the box, the first real action in the Buddies' goalmouth.

Connolly was a thorn in the Dons' side and a quick turn away from Leigh got him into a shooting position, Lewis standing up to make a good save in the 38^th minute, a vital intervention. Obika had an even better chance two minutes later, a ricochet off Ojo dropping perfectly for him in the six yard box but with the goal gaping, he prodded the ball wide as Lewis came towards him.

But against the run of play, Aberdeen were level in the 42^nd minute, a chipped ball into the box from Hayes chested forward by Sam Cosgrove and falling nicely into McGinn's sharp forward run around the penalty spot. He controlled neatly and then showed Obika how it should be done.

HALF-TIME: ST. MIRREN 1 ABERDEEN 1

Mikey Devlin and Curtis Main were introduced in place of Cosgrove and McGinn for Aberdeen as the sides came back out, the Dons going to a back four.

Tommie Hoban should have had Aberdeen in front in the 48^th minute, making a good strong run to get on the end of Hedges' corner but glancing his header wide of goal, a great opportunity. The pace of Connolly at the other end caused problems four minutes later, Considine picking up a booking for bringing him down.

Main had his first look at goal from 25 yards out in the 64^th minute, a sharp strike pushed away from Alnwick. The game was much more in the balance now, Aberdeen having much more of the play, but neither side really creating anything of note. MacPherson was next to go in the book, late on Hayes. The hosts then replaced Obika and Durmus with Erwin and McAllister in the 72^nd minute.

A great run by Hoban in the 77^th minute caused chaos, his ball slung into the box being sliced away by Fraser, straight into the arms of his goalkeeper unfortunately for the Dons. Hoban, now at right-back, was away again two minutes later, a low cross winning the visitors a corner. From the ball in, there was a scramble in the box, Main driving the ball at goal, the Dons making claims for a penalty as it was blocked to safety.

Aberdeen were building up a head of steam now, Kennedy winning an 81^st minute corner, but St. Mirren just managed to get the ball clear again. Morias came on to replace Connolly to try to get the home side going again in the 83^rd minute. It almost worked, Fraser getting space to drag in a low shot from a dozen yards out, Lewis down well to save at the foot of the post. In the 86^th minute, Morias was able to wriggle into the box, Lewis making another good save low down. Doyle-Hayes was then shown a yellow card for a trip on Kennedy.

Disaster for the Dons in the 88^th minute though, Lewis allowing a routine shot from McGrath from the edge of the box to squirm through his hands and over the line, a rare but costly error from the skipper.

Ryan Edmondson was thrown on in place of Campbell in the 90^th minute as Aberdeen chased the game but the damage had already been done in Paisley.